ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – After picking up its first sweep of the year, the UCF baseball team will travel to Daytona Beach on Tuesday night for a 6 p.m. first pitch at Bethune-Cookman.
The No. 23 Knights (4-3) jumped up a spot in the Baseball America poll this week, following a sweep of Savannah State on the weekend. UCF outscored the Tigers 25-4 over the course of three games, including the first back-to-back shutouts for the Black and Gold since the 2006 season.
UCF's starting pitchers combined for 19 strikeouts and a 2.08 ERA with 17.1 innings of work, while the bullpen did not surrender a run. Rylan Thomas posted a .636 batting average with a trio of RBI, as seven players hit above .300 on the weekend.
The Knights wreaked havoc on the basepaths with a perfect 16-for-16 mark when stealing. On Friday, UCF swiped eight bags, the most since April of 2012. The Black and Gold had nine different players steal a base against the Tigers.
Bethune-Cookman is 3-5 on the year after taking two of three against Milwaukee this weekend. The Wildcats are led offensively by Joseph Fernando's .394 clip and seven RBI. Offensively, Bethune-Cookman is averaging 8.42 runs per game, while the pitching staff has an ERA of 7.88.
UCF head coach Greg Lovelady will send JJ Montgomery to the mound for the Knights. The junior has made three relief appearances this season without allowing a run. Bethune-Cookman will counter with senior Alexis Herrera, who is 0-1 this season with a 36.00 ERA.
GAME INFO
GAME 8 | No. 23 UCF at Bethune-Cookman
Tuesday, Feb. 27 | 6 p.m.
Watch: CatEye Network
JJ Montgomery (RHP, 0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Alexis Herrera (RHP, 0-1, 36.00 ERA)
NOTABLES
• The Knights hold a 79-17 advantage over Bethune Cookman. It is the third longest series in UCF history.
• UCF has won more games against the Wildcats than any other school, including 31 in Daytona Beach.
• The Black and Gold swept the season series in 2017.
• Rylan Thomas is hitting a team-high .423 this season. He has reached base safely in all seven games this year to extend his streak to a career-high 15 games.
• UCF ranks second in the country in stolen bases with 27, led by Ray Alejo's American Athletic Conference leading seven.
• The bullpen has been lights out for the Knights this season. UCF relievers have allowed five earned runs and fanned 37 batters in 25.2 innings.
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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