ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The No. 22 UCF baseball team is set for one of its coldest series of the year as it heads to Connecticut for a three-game set against the Huskies this weekend. With temperatures not expected to rise above 50 degrees, the Knights will go for their second straight American Athletic Conference series win on the road.
Marc Daniels will have the call online through UCF Stretch Internet. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Friday, 1 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday.
UCF (21-9, 3-3) enters the third week of league action tied for fourth with Cincinnati and Tulane. The Black and Gold struck for 11 ninth-inning runs last weekend to clinch its road series at Memphis. On Tuesday, Griffin Bernardo's three-run homer in the second gave the Knights enough of a cushion to defeat No. 16 Stetson 4-1.
The Knights have had solid outings from their starting pitchers this season. Joe Sheridan and Chris Williams enter the weekend with matching 3-1 records. Both hurlers have gone at least five innings in every start this year and have sub-2.0 ERAs.
At the dish, the Black and Gold has been led by first baseman Rylan Thomas, who was named to the Perfect Game/Rawlings Midseason All-America Second Team. The powerful sophomore tops the conference in hits, runs scored, RBI and home runs. Matthew Mika has continued to flash his speed on the paths with a league-leading 18 steals through the opening 30 games.
UConn (15-9, 1-2) dropped its conference opener to USF two weeks ago. The Huskies were scheduled to play a pair of midweek games, but both contests were cancelled due to weather. Isaac Feldstein has paved the way for the UConn offense with 21 RBI. The Huskies have seven players with more than 10 RBI this year. P.J. Poulin has stepped up at the end of games for the Huskies with a conference-best eight saves.
GAME INFO
GAME 31 | No. 22 UCF at UConn
Friday, April 6 | 1 p.m.
Watch: Husky Vision | Listen: UCF Stretch Internet
Joe Sheridan (LHP, 3-1, 1.62 ERA) vs. Mason Feole (LHP, 4-0, 3.10 ERA)
GAME 32 | No. 22 UCF at UConn
Saturday, April 7 | 1 p.m.
Watch: Husky Vision | Listen: UCF Stretch Internet
Chris Williams (RHP, 3-1, 1.07 ERA) vs. Chase Gardner (LHP, 2-0, 3.09 ERA)
GAME 33 | No. 22 UCF at UConn
Sunday, April 8 | 11 a.m.
Watch: Husky Vision | Listen: UCF Stretch Internet
TBA vs. TBA
NOTES TO KNOW
• UConn holds a 9-6 series lead over the Black and Gold.
• Bernardo's home run on Tuesday was the 25th of the year for UCF.
• Thomas extended his on-base streak to 38 games with a single against Stetson.
• The Knights rank fifth in the country in stolen bases with 70 this season.
• Chris Williams' 1.07 ERA is the ninth best in the nation.
• UCF averages 10.5 strikeouts per game this season, good for sixth nationally.
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