March 22, 2012
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By Eric DeSalvo
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF baseball returns to campus this weekend as the No. 19 Knights (17-5) host East Carolina for the opening of Conference USA action. The two squads will go head-to-head Friday night at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 4 and close out the series Sunday at 1 with the game broadcasted nationally on Fox Sports.
This weekend will also be the season's first Nemours children's Hospital Family Night. There will be prizes, contests, interactive games and a grand prize bicycle giveaway at each Saturday game. Bring the whole family and invite your friends, and don't forget kids wearing their uniform get in free on Saturday and Sunday's all season long.
When the Knights and Pirates (15-5) meet on the diamond this weekend, it will be a battle of C-USA's top teams. Both squads have played quality non-conference opponents, and feature two of the top offenses and pitching staffs in the league.
Behind C-USA's-best ERA as a staff at 2.97, the duo of LHP Brian Adkins and Ben Lively will take the mound Friday and Saturday with Sunday's starter yet to be determined.
Last year in Greenville, Adkins limited the Pirates to just two runs in the Knights' 3-2 victory. He will battle ECU's Kevin Brandt (3-1, 1.77 ERA). This will be the first opening-series start for Adkins since the season-opener against LIU Brooklyn. He is just one strikeout away from No. 100 of his career.
Lively, who is tied with a team-high three wins, will take the mound Saturday. He has set down 33 batters on strikes this season and will faceoff with ECU's Tyler Joyner (1.97 ERA).
Each contest can be heard live on 740-AM as the voice of the Knights, Marc Daniels, will be on the call starting with a 15-minute pregame show leading up to first pitch.
Probable Weekend Starters (UCF first)
Friday: LHP Brian Adkins (1-0) vs. LHP Kevin Brandt (3-1)
Saturday: RHP Ben Lively (3-0) vs. LHP Tyler Joyner (3-0)
Sunday: TBD vs. RHP Jharel Cotton (4-0)