ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnighs.com) – Baseball is finally back at John Euliano Park. The Knights will open the 2020 season with four games in three days against Siena. First pitch on Friday is set for 6 p.m., the first game of Saturday's doubleheader will begin at 2 p.m. with the second game starting roughly 45 minutes after the conclusion of game one and Sunday is set for a 1 p.m. first pitch.
Marc Daniels will have the call on Opening Knight on FM96.9/AM740 The Game. All four games will be streamed on twitch.tv/UCFKnightsTV1.
THE WEEKEND ROTATION
Colton Gordon will get the nod on Opening Knight for his first game with the Knights. The junior college transfer started 13 games for Hillsborough Community College in 2019 and compiled 86 strikeouts in 88.2 innings of work.
Trevor Holloway is the line returner in the announced starters for the Knights. The senior made six appearances last year, all starts and posted a 2.03 ERA in 26.2 innings pitched.
Hunter Patteson is slated to get the start in game two of Saturday's doubleheader as the only freshman in the rotation for UCF. Patteson's start will mark the first time that a freshman is getting the nod on opening weekend since 2015 when Cre Finfrock toed the rubber vs. Siena. Finfrock went on to be drafted in the 2018 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 29th round.
GAME 1 – Friday, 6 PM | UCFKnights.TV | 96.9FM/740AM The Game
Colton Gordon, LHP vs. Mike McCulley, RHP
GAME 2 – Saturday, 2 PM | UCFKnights.TV
Trevor Holloway, RHP vs. John Lumpinski, RHP
GAME 3 – Saturday, Game 2 | UCFKnights.TV
Hunter Patteson, LHP vs. Ben Seiler, LHP
GAME 4 – Sunday, 1 PM | UCFKnights.TV
TBA vs. TBA
NOTES
- The Knights will face Siena for the 62nd time. UCF owns a 57-4 advantage, making it the highest winning percentage the Black and Gold has in a series with more than 25 games.
- Friday will be the first game for the newest 18 Knights.
- Colton Gordon will be the 19th different pitcher to start on Opening Knight over the last 20 seasons.
- The Knights have started strong on Opening Weekends with a 34-15 mark all-time on Opening Knight and an 85-33-1 mark in the opening series of the year.
- Junior right fielder, Dalton Wingo was tabbed American Athletic Conference Preseason All-Conference after hitting .294 at the plate with seven homers and 44 RBI a year ago.
- Head Coach Greg Lovelady returns for his fourth season at UCF with a career record of 235-121.
PROMOTIONS
- Opening Knight will feature pregame appearances by UCF equestrian royalty – Pegasus and Knugget.
- The Citronaut drink (Fanta and ice cream) will be making a return to John Euliano Park on Saturdays all season long after its debut in 2019.
- Introduced last season, UCF will expand on Knightro's Kid Zone located on the third base deck behind the visiting team's dugout.
DON'T MISS OUT
The UCF baseball team is set for its fourth season under head coach Greg Lovelady and will welcome seven teams from the 2019 NCAA Tournament to John Euliano Park in 2020. Click here or call (407) 823-1000 for ticket information.
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