ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – Heading into the finale week of the regular season, the UCF baseball team continues to vie for an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Knights have a busy week ahead with four games in five days.
UCF will open on the road at FAU for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch on Tuesday, before a three-game set against Houston at John Euliano Park on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with 6 p.m. starts for all three games.
Marc Daniels will have the call all week on FM96.9/AM740 The Game.
The Black and Gold enters its final midweek game of the year on Tuesday night with a 13-1 mark in those contests. The Knights have knocked off No. 3 Florida, No. 14 Florida State and No. 18 Miami during that stretch, with the lone loss coming against the Owls. Six different Knights have hit above .300 over the course of the 14 games, led by Matthew Mika’s .396 average.
After the collision with the Owls on Tuesday, the Knights will have a quick turnaround to face Houston on Thursday in the final American Athletic Conference series of the year. UCF is 9-12 in league action and sits seventh in the standings, just two games back of the Cougars in fourth place.
SCOUTING FAU
• FAU sits atop the Conference USA standings after a series win at UTSA over the weekend at 19-8 with a 34-17 mark overall.
• The Owls have six players hitting over .300 heading into the final week of the regular season, topped by Wilfredo Alvarez’ .330 clip with 16 RBI.
• The pitching staff holds a 4.73 ERA with a 2.13 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
SCOUTING HOUSTON
• The Cougars took two of three at home last week against Tulane to improve to 31-19 overall and 11-10 in the league.
• Houston boasts one of the top pitching staffs in the nation with an ERA of 3.64 and a team WHIP of 1.29.
• Slugger Joe Davis sits 19th in the nation with 16 home runs and a slugging percentage of .603.
UCF at FAU – Tuesday, May 14, 6:30 PM
TBA vs. TBA
UCF vs. Houston – Thursday, May 16, 6 PM
TBA vs. TBA
UCF vs. Houston – Friday, May 18, 6 PM
TBA vs. TBA
UCF vs. Houston – Saturday, May 18, 6 PM
TBA vs. TBA
WEEK 13 NOTEBOOK
OVERALL: 31-19
THE AMERICAN: 9-12
NON-CONFERENCE: 22-7
THIS WEEK: 3-0
STREAK: W4
LAST WEEK'S GAMES
Tuesday vs. Bethune-Cookman – Win, 6-5 | Recap
Wednesday at No. 18 Miami – Win, 8-7 | Recap
THIS WEEK'S GAMES
Tuesday, May 14, 6:30 PM – at FAU | Live Stats | Watch | FM96.9/AM740 The Game
Thursday, May 16, 6 PM – vs. Houston | Live Stats | UCFKnights.TV | FM96.9/AM740 The Game
Friday, May 17, 6 PM – vs. Houston | Live Stats | UCFKnights.TV | FM96.9/AM740 The Game
Saturday, May 18, 6 PM – vs. Houston | Live Stats | UCFKnights.TV | FM96.9/AM740 The Game
A QUICK RECAP
* UCF started its two-game week with a 6-5 win over Bethune-Cookman, featuring a five-run eighth to win the game.
* The Knights held off a late surge by No. 18 Miami on Wednesday to knock off the Hurricanes 8-7.
* Due to a scheduling quirk, the Knights used their bye weekend to rest.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Jaylyn Whitehead, rJr., LHP
1 App, 1 GS, 5 IP, 4 K, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB
• Worked around an error-laden second inning to keep Bethune-Cookman for four out of five frames.
• Matched career high with four strikeouts.
• Retired seven batters in a row after the second inning.
HITTER OF THE WEEK
Tyler Osik, rSr., INF/OF
2 GS, .571/.625/1.000, 2 RBI, 1 HR, 3 R, 1 BB
• Extended hitting streak to four games.
• Posted eighth three-hit game of the year against Bethune-Cookman.
• Pulled within one of Dallas Beaver’s home run lead with his ninth homer of the year against Miami.
TEAM NOTES
• UCF improved to 4-5 against ranked opposition in 2019.
• The Knights are on a four-game winning streak is tied for the longest this season.
• The Black and Gold has outscored opponents in every inning this season, except the second and ninth.
• David Litchfield made his third career appearance against Miami and struck out a career-high four.
• UCF continues to lead The American with 84 stolen bases on the year.
• Chris Williams took his strikeout-to-walk ratio to 7.38, good for seventh in the nation.
• Rookie Ben McCabe recorded his first career three-RBI game against Bethune-Cookman.
• The Knights are 9-3 in one-run games this season.
• UCF is 24-2 when leading after the seventh inning.
• The Black and Gold will honor its 10 senior members on Saturday for Senior Knight.
• The Knights are 49 in the RPI with all four games this week against top-40 opponents.
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