ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – After all the preseason fanfare and rankings, the 2018 UCF baseball season is finally here. The second year of the Greg Lovelady era is set to begin with a three-game tournament this weekend at John Euliano Park.
The No. 22 Knights will face No. 15 Virginia on Friday night at 6:30 p.m., Rice at 5 p.m. on Saturday and Samford on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Headlined by American Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year Rylan Thomas and Collegiate Baseball Preseason All-American Bryce Tucker, the Knights were tabbed to finish third in The American this season.
UCF won the 2017 American Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship with a 15-9 record in league play and a 40-22 mark overall. Thomas and pitcher Joe Sheridan garnered Freshman All-America honors, as the Knights punched their first ticket to an NCAA Regional since 2012.
Heading into opening weekend, Lovelady will send Chris Williams out for Opening Knight against the Cavaliers. Sheridan will get the ball on Saturday against Rice. The Sunday starter for the Knights has yet to be announced.
Virginia, the 2015 College World Series Champion, went 43-16 with an appearance in the NCAA Fort Worth Regional last year. The Cavaliers were picked to finish second in the ACC Coastal Division, behind North Carolina. Junior outfielder Jake McCarthy was listed as a Preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball, D1Baseball and Baseball America.
Rice won the Conference USA Championship and earned a spot in the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional last year. Sophomore Matt Canterino will start against the Knights on Saturday after receiving Preseason All-America honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
Samford finished 2017 with a 33-26 record and earned the sixth seed at the SoCon Tournament. Relief pitcher Wyatt Burns was named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List. Entering his 14th season, head coach Casey Dunn has guided the Bulldogs to 30-plus win season in 10 of the last 12 seasons.
GAME INFO
GAME 1 | No. 22 UCF vs. No. 15 Virginia
Friday, Feb. 16 | 6:30 p.m.
Watch: UCFKnights.tv | Radio: 96.9/AM 740 The Game
Chris Williams (RHP, 5-4, 2.65 ERA) vs. Daniel Lynch (LHP, 7-5, 5.00 ERA)
GAME 2 | No. 22 UCF vs. Rice
Saturday, Feb. 17 | 5 p.m.
Watch: UCFKnights.tv
Joe Sheridan (LHP, 10-4, 3.25 ERA) vs. Matt Canterino (RHP, 5-5, 4.12 ERA)
GAME 3 | No. 22 UCF vs. Samford
Sunday, Feb. 18 | 2 p.m.
Watch: UCFKnights.tv
TBA vs. Sam Strickland (LHP, True Freshman)
NOTES TO KNOW
• UCF opens the season against a ranked opponent for the first time since the 2000 season.
• The Knights have won their last 10 season-opening series.
• The Black and Gold hold a 30-15 record when playing season openers.
• Sheridan and Williams finished the 2017 season as weekend starters.
• John Euliano Park will be open, including the new open-air main concourse. The press box and premium club are not scheduled to open until early March.
• Thomas, Sheridan, Tucker and Matthew Mika were honored by The American, earning Preseason All-Conference honors.
• UCF finished the year with a 3.0 staff ERA, which led The American and was fifth in the nation.
• The Black and Gold stole 106 bases in 2017, the highest total since 2005.
PROMOTIONS
• The first 150 students and 100 fans through the gates receive a free American Athletic Conference Championship t-shirt.
"THE UCF KNIGHTS ARE ON THE AIR"
The 2018 UCF baseball season will be heard on 96.9FM The Game/740AM. The Voice of the Knights Marc Daniels returns to bring you the action featuring the Black and Gold this season. Through UCF's partnership with iHeart Media, the Knights will be on the radio for 30 games this season. Click here to listen to UCF Baseball on iHeart Media. In addition to radio broadcasts, all home games will be streamed on UCFKnights.tv.
DON'T MISS THE ACTION
Season and single-game tickets for UCF Baseball are on sale. Featuring a 36-game home schedule, John Euliano Park is set to host some of the best collegiate baseball in the country. For more information on tickets call 407-823-1000 or log on to ticketmaster.com.
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