ORLANDO, Fla. – UCF baseball freshman Matt Archer joins UCFKnights.com to look back at his first season on campus with the Knights.
Why did you choose UCF?
From the minute I stepped on campus I knew UCF was where I wanted to be. I fell in love with the campus and everything it had to offer. I saw the impact Coach Lovelady and his staff had on the baseball program and I knew I wanted to be a part of what he was building. UCF has some of the best academics in Florida as well as a first class baseball program in which I knew I could develop as a student, baseball player and more importantly a person while competing to win a National Championship every year.
What was your favorite memory from your first season as a Knight?
My favorite memory from my first season as a Knight had to be opening day because it was the first time my teammates and I were able to take the field together as one against an opposing team. Opening day is always special and being able to play in front of Knight Nation for the first time was truly an unforgettable experience and a night that I will never forget.
Hard to not be romantic about the start of baseball season ?? pic.twitter.com/elHHrYj21u
— UCF Baseball (@UCF_Baseball) February 14, 2020
What game did you think was the best all-around performance from the team last season?
Sweeping Auburn at Auburn was the best all around performance from our team last season. It is tough to pinpoint one game from the series but I believe winning game one set the tone for the whole series. Our pitching was lights out, we had solid defense and got big timely hits when we needed them. Our coaching staff did a great job preparing us to go into an environment like that and to go in and sweep them was huge for our season and our program.
Hello! Allow us to re-introduce ourselves.#ChargeOn ?? #Power6 pic.twitter.com/Y07hsGMP0h
— UCF Baseball (@UCF_Baseball) February 23, 2020
What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?
I would tell incoming freshmen to learn and listen to our coaching staff as much as possible. Our coaching staff has a proven track record of developing great players and they have a history of winning. They have been around the game and the knowledge they have will make the transition to college baseball a lot smoother. Also, I would tell them to learn and observe from the upperclassmen as much as possible because of the impact they have on our program and how well they handle themselves on and off the field. The upperclassmen this year really took the freshman under their wing and we were able to learn a great deal which I believe had a big part in our success this year.
What are you most excited about for the 2021 season?
Looking ahead to the 2021 season I am most excited about building on what we accomplished in the shortened 2020 season while creating our own history and memories. There is nothing I enjoy more than playing in front of Knight Nation and I can't wait to be able to take the field with my teammates in front of them again as we make a push toward a National Championship.
In his first season with UCF, Archer helped the UCF baseball team achieve a 15-3 overall record while seeing the Knights rise to a national ranking as high as No. 12 on multiple national polls. The freshman third baseman finished the shortened 2020 campaign with a .291 batting average, with a home run and 10 RBI after starting 17 games.