ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF baseball team will hit the road in the American Athletic Conference for the second straight week with a trip to Wichita State this weekend. Due to the Easter holiday, first pitches are set for 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday with an 11:30 a.m. start time on Saturday.
Marc Daniels will have the call of all three games. The games on Thursday and Saturday can be heard on FM96.9/AM740 The Game, while Friday’s contest will be streamed through UCFKnights.com.
Last night, an early two-run lead was not enough for the Knights to hold off FAU at John Euliano Park, as the Black and Gold dropped a midweek game for the first time all season. Jordan Spicer provided five scoreless innings on the mound. Matthew Mika was the catalyst for all three runs for the Knights, going 1-for-3 with two RBI on the night.
UCF has made it a habit of starting strong this season, outscoring opponents 36-15 in first innings. The Knights have opened the scoring in 28 of the 37 games. Tyler Osik and Ray Alejo have led the charge with a combined clip of .409 and 10 RBI, while Dallas Beaver is hitting .300 with eight RBI in first innings. The Knights are 64-20 in the Greg Lovelady era when scoring first.
ON THE MOUND
For the fourth straight week, the Knights will give the ball to Grant Schuermann and Chris Williams for Thursday and Friday, respectively. Schuermann has posted three straight quality starts and has an 0.83 ERA over his last three outings with just a pair of earned runs allowed. Williams continues to rank in the top 20 nationally in walks allowed per nine innings and strikeout-to-walk ratio at 7.60 and 1.14, respectively. Saturday’s starter will be announced at a later date.
SCOUTING WICHITA STATE
• The Shockers are 18-18 overall after dropping the last six games, in addition to a 3-6 mark in The American.
• Wichita State ranks 11th in the nation with 35 double plays turned this season.
• Luke Ritter continues to be one of the top hitters in the league with a .374 clip and a team-high 28 runs driven in.
GAME 1 – Thursday, April 18, 7 PM ET | FM96.9/AM740 The Game
Grant Schuermann, LHP (4-3, 2.18 ERA) vs. Liam Eddy, RHP (3-4, 4.50 ERA)
GAME 2 – Friday, April 19, 7 PM ET
Chris Williams (3-3, 5.49 ERA) vs. Preston Snavely, RHP (3-3, 5.55 ERA)
GAME 3 – Saturday, April 20, 11:30 AM ET | FM96.9/AM740 The Game
TBA vs. Tommy Barnhouse, RHP (2-2, 5.23 ERA)
NOTES
• UCF leads the all-time series 2-1 after taking the first ever series between the two clubs last year at John Euliano Park.
• Matthew Mika is up 17 stolen bases on the year, bringing him within three of fourth in program history at 76.
• Mika recorded his 22nd career multi-RBI game on Tuesday night, the active team leader.
• Dallas Beaver, Ben McCabe and Chandler Robertson are tied with the longest active on-base streaks at five games.
• Jeffrey Hakanson leads the team with 45 strikeouts, all in relief.
• The Knights have 16 bunt singles this season and 26 sacrifice bunts. The latter ranks 27th in the nation.
• Beaver has climbed up to second in The American with 31 walks.
• Opposing starters have a combined record of 4-15 and a 5.59 ERA.
• The Knights are second in The American with 58 stolen bases.
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE GAME NOTES
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