AUBURN, Ala. – Set for its first road test of the year, the UCF baseball team takes off to visit No. 8 Auburn this weekend in Auburn, Ala. Start times are set for 3 p.m. on Friday, 2 p.m. on Saturday, and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
After a four-game sweep of Siena on Opening Weekend, the Knights are coming off a heartbreaking 6-5 loss against Stetson to put them at 4-1 on the young season.
The Black and Gold bats have been off to a hot start, collectively hitting five HR's and accumulating 15 total extra-base hits in five games. In addition to hitting for extra bases, the Knights have been aggressive on the base paths with 17 stolen base attempts and successfully swiping 14 bases.
As a staff, UCF pitchers have an ERA of 2.40 through their five games, holding opponents to a .204 batting average. Opening Knight starter Colton Gordon paces the Knights with 6.1 innings pitched and carries a 1.42 ERA. Jack Sinclair and Gordon each have 10 strikeouts on the season, the most of any pitcher on the roster.
This weekend will be the Knights' first test against a ranked opponent. UCF finished the 2019 campaign with a 5-5 mark against ranked opponents.
THE WEEKEND ROTATION
UCF will send out a similar rotation to the mound this weekend, starting with Colton Gordon on Friday and Trevor Holloway again on Saturday's contest
Colton Gordon will return as the Friday night starter for UCF. Gordon tossed 6.1 innings in his 2020 debut and fanned 10 Siena hitters on his way to earning the win.
Trevor Holloway picked up the win last Saturday against Siena after going throwing five scoreless innings and striking out nine.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
- The No. 8 Tigers sit 5-0 through the first handful of games on the season, including a 14-0 run-rule shortened contest against Illinois-Chicago on Sunday. Their largest margin of victory came Wednesday against Oakland by a score of 17-1.
- The Auburn pitching staff has allowed eight runs through five games so far while holding opposing batters to a .195 average. The three starters slated to face the Knights have tossed a combined 14.0 innings and struck out 22.
- Two Auburn hitters' control .550+ batting averages through 20+ at-bats, Rankin Woley and Ryan Bliss. While neither batter has a home run on the year, they combine for 10 doubles and 18 RBIs heading into the second week of the season.
GAME 1 – Friday, 3 p.m. | WATCH | LIVE STATS
Colton Gordon, LHP (1-0, 1.42 ERA) vs. Tanner Burns, RHP (1-0, 5.40 ERA)
GAME 2 – Saturday, 2 p.m. | WATCH | LIVE STATS
Trevor Holloway, RHP (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Jack Owen, LHP (1-0, 1.80 ERA)
GAME 3 – Sunday, 1 p.m. | WATCH | LIVE STATS
TBA vs. Bailey Horn, LHP (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
NOTES
- At the plate, the Knights have hit at least one homer in three straight games, beginning with the second game vs. Siena on Saturday.
- The last time UCF won a weekend series against an SEC opponent came back in 2001 against No. 11 Alabama.
DON'T MISS OUT
The UCF baseball team has begun 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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