ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF baseball team will play its final non-conference series of the year this weekend when No. 26 Oklahoma comes to John Euliano Park for a three-game set.
Start times for the series are set for 6:30 p.m. on Friday, 6:30 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Marc Daniels will call the games on UCFKnights.tv and 96.6 FM/740 AM The Game.
UCF (32-17) dropped a midweek matchup against FAU at FITTEAM Ballpark of The Palm Beaches. Tyler Osik blasted his ninth home run of the season, but the Black and Gold could not keep pace with the Owls, falling 11-8.
Junior Thad Ward picked up the American Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week laurel after throwing four shutout innings at No. 19 Houston in the series opener. The righty has cemented himself in the stable of relievers with a 1.88 ERA in 14 appearances out of the bullpen.
Friday night starter Cre Finfrock took his first no-decision since returning to a starting role last weekend. The redshirt junior is 4-0 with a 1.85 ERA and 25 strikeouts in five starts this season. As a staff, the Knights are just 12 strikeouts away from 500 for the season, which ranks fifth in the country. The Black and Gold will have its first back-to-back 500-punchout seasons in program history.
Ray Alejo sprinted his way into third place in the nation for stolen bases with 31. The redshirt sophomore swiped a pair of bags on Tuesday night at FAU, including stealing home for the second straight game. UCF is fifth nationally with 101 stolen bags.
Osik joined Rylan Thomas for the team and conference lead in RBI with 53. The duo have combined to launch 21 of UCF's 37 home runs this season. Thomas continues to sit atop The American in hits (55), home runs (12) and total bases (116). The UCF first baseman has a .465 on-base percentage and a .627 slugging clip.
Oklahoma (31-18) currently sits third in the Big 12 ledger after a sweep of Kansas State last weekend. Friday night starting pitcher Jake Irvin struck out 10 against the Wildcats to earn Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honors. Outfielder Steele Walker leads the way at the plate with a .355 clip, a .608 slugging percentage and 46 RBI. Brylie Ware and Kyle Mendenhall have each driven in more than 30 runs.
PROMOTIONS
• The first 200 fans through the gates on Sunday will receive a free Knights cooling towel.
GAME INFO
GAME 50 | UCF vs. No. 26 Oklahoma
Friday, May 11 | 6:30 p.m .
Watch: UCFKnights.tv | Listen: 96.9 FM/740 AM
Cre Finfrock (RHP, 5-0, 3.46 ERA) vs. Jake Irvin (RHP, 6-1, 3.05 ERA)
GAME 51 | UCF vs. No. 26 Oklahoma
Saturday, May 12 | 6:30 p.m.
Watch: UCFKnights.tv | Listen: 96.9 FM/740 AM
TBA vs. Levi prater (LHP, 2-2, 3.03 ERA)
GAME 52 | UCF vs. No. 26 Oklahoma
Sunday, May 13 | 1 p.m.
Watch: UCFKnights.tv | Listen: 96.9 FM/740 AM
Joe Sheridan (LHP, 3-2, 2.98 ERA) vs. Nathan Wiles (RHP, 4-3, 3.98 ERA)
NOTES TO KNOW
• The UCF-Oklahoma series is tied at 2-2. The last meeting was on Feb. 22, 2014, when the Knights won 4-1.
• Thomas is one of four players in the nation with at least 45 runs, 65 hits, 50 RBI, 10 home runs and 30 walks.
• The Knights rank first in shutouts (9), fourth in hits allowed (7.13) and 10th in WHIP (1.20).
• Osik's next home run will give UCF their first duo in double figures since 2015.
• UCF has stolen home three times this season.
• The Black and Gold is 10-6 against ranked opponents this season, including a two-game sweep of No. 1 Florida.
• Cre Finfrock will make his 35th career start on Friday night.
• Ray Alejo is hitting .306 over the last 10 games with a perfect 11-for-11 mark on stolen bases.
• The Knights have struck out at least 10 batters in 25 games this year.
• John Euliano Park has given the Knights a boost in 2018. UCF is averaging 7.03 runs per game with an ERA of 2.98.
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