April 19, 2012
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By Eric DeSalvo
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - After spending just three days in Orlando, the No. 10 UCF baseball team is back on the road for another crucial Conference USA test. This weekend, the C-USA co-leaders will take on Tulane in a three-game set beginning Friday night at 7:30 p.m. EDT.
Fans unable to make the trek to the Big Easy will be able to listen to the voice of the Knights, Marc Daniels, as each game will be carried live on 740-AM The Game. Friday night's action will be joined in progress, but Saturday and Sunday's contests will air live at 3 and 2 p.m. EDT, respectively.
The Knights (31-8, 9-3), fresh off a 12-3 home win over Florida Atlantic Tuesday night, return to league play against the Green Wave (26-11, 5-4). Both teams sit atop the league standings in nearly every offensive category and with the Knights holding down the conference lead in ERA (2.81).
UCF will toss Ben Lively (5-1, 3.10 ERA) on Friday night for the first time since March 16 against Harvard. Chris Matulis (5-0, 2.72 ERA) will give it a go on Saturday and Ray Hanson (3-1, 2.78 ERA) on Sunday.
Winners in their last 7-of-8 contests, the Knights began the week with a NCAA RPI rating at No. 21 and appear among the nation's best in many statistical categories, including runs (8th), walks (4th), sacrifice flies (6th), ERA (13th) and win-loss percentage (.789).
Stopper of the Year Update
Joe Rogers has been named to the midseason watch list for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award. He has continued to be a prominent fixture at the backend of UCF's bullpen. He has made 18 appearances, covering 25.2 innings and striking out 27, while walking just two batters. He owns a 4-0 record with a 1.05 ERA and opposing hitters are batting just .193 against him. With seven saves this season he now has 24 in his career, second in UCF history and just three away from the school record.
Probable Starters (UCF first)
Friday: RHP Ben Lively (5-1, 3.10 ERA) vs. RHP Andrew Reeves (0-0, 5.40 ERA)
Saturday: LHP Chris Matulis (4-0, 2.72 ERA) vs. LHP David Napoli (5-2, 2.05 ERA)
Sunday: RHP Ray Hanson (3-1, 2.78 ERA) vs. RHP Kyle McKenzie (3-1, 2.25 ERA)