ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The No. 19 UCF baseball team will host Chicago State at John Euliano Park for the final non-conference weekend series before American Athletic Conference play begins.
First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. All three games will be streamed on UCFKnights.tv. The series opener on Friday will have free admission, presented by CFE Federal Credit Union.
The Knights (14-4) split a pair of games in the midweek. UCF needed 13 innings to down Bradley 6-5 on Tuesday night. Tyler Osik brought in the game-winning run for the second time in four outings. On Wednesday, UCF had its 13-game winning streak snapped by Miami in a 4-3 loss. Joe Sheridan went seven innings on the mound and struck out a career-best nine.
The 13-game streak finished tied for the fifth longest in program history. During the stretch, UCF outscored opponents 91 to 38. Rylan Thomas, Matthew Mika and Tyler Osik combined 44 RBI to lead the way offensively. Mika also went 10-for-12 when stealing. On the mound, UCF pitchers posted a 2.38 ERA and 147 strikeouts.
Thomas has been on a tear to start the year. The sophomore leads the team in batting average (.420), RBI (24) and home runs (6). Osik has provided another consistent bat in the lineup with 12 RBI and 11 hits over the last six games.
Chicago State is 4-9 on the year, but the Cougars have lost their last eight. Tyler Lowe and Cody Freund have led the way offensively with 10 and 11 RBI, respectively. The pitching staff for the Cougars has a 4.83 ERA and a 1.25 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
GAME INFO
GAME 19 | No. 19 UCF vs. Chicago State
Friday, March 16 | 6:30 p.m.
Watch: UCFKnights.tv
Chris Williams (RHP, 2-0, 1.44 ERA) vs. Dylan Cumming (RHP, 1-1, 2.45)
GAME 20 | No. 19 UCF vs. Chicago State
Saturday, March 17 | 6:30 p.m.
Watch: UCFKnights.tv
Thad Ward (RHP, 1-1, 4.32 ERA) vs. TBA
GAME 21 | No. 19 UCF vs. Chicago State
Sunday, March 18 | 1 p.m.
Watch: UCFKnights.tv
TBA vs. Zach Thomas (LHP, 1-2, 2.55 ERA)
NOTES TO KNOW
• UCF and Chicago State will meet for the first time in program history.
• Out of the bullpen, the Knights have allowed 12 earned runs over 70 1/3 innings of work.
• The relievers are 4-2 on the year with six saves and 94 punchouts.
• The Knights continue to lead the nation in stolen bases with 57 swipes.
• Mika ranks fourth in the country in steals with 12, followed by Ray Alejo in seventh with 11.
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.
GET THE APP
Never miss any UCF Knights news from your favorite team by downloading the free UCF Knights app right to your iOS or Android phone! The app provides personalized information for men's and women's teams, scores, schedules, loyalty programs and even breaking news.
FOLLOW THE KNIGHTS
Follow UCF Baseball on social media on Facebook (/UCF.Baseball), Twitter (UCF_Baseball) and Instagram (UCF.Baseball).