MARYLAND – UCF WEEKEND SERIES
Date: Friday – Sunday, March 24-26
Location: Orlando, Fla.
Site: John Euliano Park
Time: 6 p.m. (Fri.) | 6 p.m. (Sat.) | 1 p.m. (Sun.)
Live Video - ESPN+: Friday | Saturday | Sunday
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
Tickets
Pitching Preview
Friday: RHP Jason Savacool (Maryland) vs. RHP Ruddy Gomez (UCF)
Saturday: RHP Nick Dean (Maryland) vs. RHP Dom Stagliano (UCF)
Sunday: LHP Kyle McCoy (Maryland) vs. LHP Jacob Marlowe (UCF)
Ruddy Gomez, dubbed the Knights' Friday starter, is making is sixth start for UCF. He has a team-leading 3.07 ERA on the season, with 35 strikeouts through 29.1 innings. In each of Gomez's previous appearances he set back-to-back career records in single-game strikeouts with 11 in 7.2 innings against Troy and again with 12 in 6.0 innings against Dartmouth.
Dom Stagliano, who coming off a remarkable 2-0 week, is set to make his first weekend start since Clemson in week two. In his last two outings, Stagliano struck out 12 and allowed only two runs and one walk over 12 innings of work. Matching his career-high seven strikeouts in his midweek start against No. 21 Florida State and going five scoreless innings with only two hits in relief against Dartmouth, Stagliano was named to the weekly American Athletic Conference Honor Roll.
Jacob Marlowe will make his fourth career start for the Knights, and his first ever weekend start. Last week, he had a career game in his start against No. 21 Florida State, setting single-game career records in both innings pitched with 7.0 and strikeouts with five. Marlowe also pitched two scoreless innings to open UCF's midweek against UNF, allowing two hits and notching two strikeouts.
Jason Savacool leads the Terrapins with a 2.32 ERA and 1.00 WHIP over his five starts. Over 31 innings of work, Savacool has fanned 29 hitters allowing 23 hits and eight earned runs. Nick Dean has 6.39 ERA through 25.1 innings of work, fanning 28 hitters and allowing 18 earned runs. Kyle McCoy rounds out the weekend for the Terrapins, making his fifth start of the season. He has a 4.08 ERA with 17.2 innings pitched, notching 16 strikeouts with 14 hits and eight earned runs.
The Head-to-Head
The Knights are 2-2 overall against the Terrapins. The two teams met for a three-game series in 2007, Maryland taking the first two meetings, 16-4, 9-7, and UCF owning the two most recent victories. Over eight years since their last matchup on Feb. 21 2015, the Knights look to extend their series win streak.
Scouting the Terrapins
Another power-hitting team visits UCF in the Maryland Terrapins (12-8), who have been ranked or received votes in the polls each week this season. They have won eight of their last nine games, the loss coming to UAlbany on Saturday. Currently the Terrapins look to extend their two-game win streak. They're hitting .293 as a team with a .429 OBP. Maryland is tied at 19th nationally in home runs and tied at 17th in home runs per game with 1.95. Maryland's team ERA sits at 5.12, led by Friday starter Savacool.
Scouting the Knights
UCF (15-6), receiving votes in the NCBWA for the fourth week, looks to return to the win column after their first loss on the road earlier this week, a 4-2 walk-off at North Florida. The Knights have a team batting average of .308. The power-hitting team remains in the top-ten in home runs, ranking 7th nationally in both home runs (45) and home runs per game (2.14). The offense is led by five-year veteran Ben McCabe, who boasts a .449 AVG with 35 hits, 20 RBI, and ten home runs through the Knights' 21 games. McCabe is joined by, Andrew Brait, John Rhys Plumlee and freshman Drew Faurot are all hitting at or above .312.Andrew Sundean was named American Athletic Conference Player of the Week after adding 14 RBI with two home runs to his season tally. He's hitting .455 and has a .523 on base percentage in 14 games. UCF has a team ERA of 4.68, led by Friday and Saturday starters Gomez and Stagliano. Defensively, the Knights have a .965 fielding percentage.
UP NEXT
The Knights will go on the road to Boca Raton, Fla. for their second meeting with the FAU Owls at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 28th.