ORLANDO – The UCF baseball team will open its 2025 campaign Friday when it welcomes Siena to town to open a three-game series.
The Opening-Weekend series will run Friday to Sunday at John Euliano Park. Friday and Saturday’s games are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., while Sunday’s finale is set for a 1 p.m. first pitch. All three games will air live on ESPN+ and live stats can also be followed by visiting UCF.Statbroacast.com.
“We’re obviously excited to get the season going and very optimistic about this group,” second-year head UCF coach Rich Wallace said. “We had a very productive fall and are looking forward to opening things up this weekend.”
In Wallace’s first season as head coach, UCF finished the 2024 campaign at 37-21 and in eighth in Big 12 Conference play with a 14-15 mark. The Knights then went on to advance to the semifinals of the Big 12 Championship and earned an at-large bid to take part in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2017 with a spot at the 2024 NCAA Tallahassee Regional. The Knights knocked off both Alabama and Stetson to reach the regional final, but had their run come to a close to the host and eighth-ranked Florida State Seminoles.
The Knights welcome back 13 returning letterwinners from last year’s squad, five returning position player starters and two returning starting pitchers. UCF will also look to mix in 24 newcomers to the squad this year, which includes 18 transfers and six freshmen.
“We added to our depth and athleticism in both our position players as well as on the mound,” Wallace added. “We also now have a lot more variety in the bullpen. This will give us a better look from our pitchers where we will be able to match-up better this season.”
RETURNING KNIGHTS
A total of six Knights earned all-conference accolades a season ago. Of the group, UCF welcomes back Matt Prevesk (senior outfielder). A year ago, Prevesk was one of the team’s top hitters by batting .342 with 80 hits, five home runs, 10 doubles, three triples and 35 RBIs. He also led the team with 25 multiple-hit games. Finishing second on the team in RBIs with 43 and extra-base hits with 20, Lex Boedicker (senior infielder) also returns for the Black and Gold this season (.266, 10 2Bs, 6 HR, .752 OPS), as well as redshirt junior infielder Braden Calise (.312, 19 RBIs, 4 SB, .774 OPS), senior catcher Andrew Sundean (.278, 7 2B, 6 HR, 31 RBI, .835 OPS), sophomore outfielder Andrew Williamson (.258, 6 2B, 5 HR, 25 RBI, .744 OPS) and redshirt junior catcher Dylan King (.213, 4 2B, .613 OPS).
On the mound, the Knights welcome back returning starter and member of the 2024 All-Big 12 Conference Second Team Dom Stagliano (RHP, 3-4, 4.10 ERA, 66 SO) as well as a top bullpen arm and 2024 ABCA/Rawlings Second Team All-Region member Dominic Castellano (LHP, 7-0, 2.83 ERA, 3 SV, 68 SO). A number of other key contributors from are also back this year in returning starter Wiley Hartley (RHP, 3-3, 38 SO) closer Kris Sosnowski (RHP, 1-0, 3.38 ERA, 6 SV, 40 SO), reliever Spencer Bauer (RHP, 2-1, 4.32 ERA, 37 SO) and fellow relievers Alex Galvan (2-0, 5.06 ERA, 9 SO) and Tyler Kozera (RHP, 1-0, 1.50 ERA, 10 SO). Both Stagliano and Castellano were recently named Preseason All-Big 12 for the 2025 campaign.
NEW KNIGHTS
Of the newcomers, sophomore transfer Chase Krewson (OF from Duke) is anticipated to be one of the squad’s top newcomers as he brings solid experience to the team after helping lead the Blue Devils to an ACC Tournament Championship and an NCAA Regional appearance last year. Also joining UCF from the ACC this spring is junior outfielder DeAmez Ross (Florida State) and sophomore infielder Antonio Jimenez (Miami). Big things are also expected from junior college transfers Kendrey Maduro (infielder) and Edian Espinal (infielder).
On the mound, Jacksonville transfers Isaac Williams (RHP) and Dakota Stone (LHP) will look to be key contributors from the bullpen, as well as Kevin Schoneboom (RHP, Northeast Texas CC), James Lordi (LHP, Penn State), Payton Waters (RHP, St. Johns River State) and others. Of the starting rotation, sophomore transfer Camden Wicker (RHP, Wofford), Matt Sauser (RHP, Florida State) and Angelo Smith (RHP, Indian River State) will look to break into the starting rotation.
Infielder Mateo Gray (Weston, Fla.) looks to contribute as a true freshman on the position player side, while southpaw Drew Bellis (Avon Lake, Ohio) and right-handed pitcher Anthony Lariz (Key West, Fla.) have shown promise on the mound. Some other freshmen to keep an eye on are Alex Rodriguez (Coral Springs, Fla.) and Luke Mottola (Orlando, Fla.), the son UCF volleyball legend Emily Mottola and UCF Athletics Hall of Famer Chad Mottola.
OPENING WEEKEND STARTING ROTATION
The senior right-hander Stagliano will take the ball for UCF in the season opener on Friday night. Stagliano started 14 games for the Black and Gold last season and earned Preseason All-Big 12 honors this year after being named to the league’s second team last year. Returning right-handed starter Alistair Morin will take the ball for Siena on Friday (1-7, 6.97 ERA in 2024). Fellow returning starter and RHP Hartley will start Saturday’s game for the Knights (3-3, 5.31) and will face Xavier transfer and southpaw Tyler Sausville for Siena (2-3, 4.82). Right-hander Grant Siegel, who redshirted the year last season for UCF, will make his debut in a Black and Gold uniform on Sunday (4-3, 5.65 ERA at West Virginia in 2023) and will face Saints’ RHP Noah Rodriguez (2-3, 4.82).
OPENING KNIGHT SUCCESS
UCF has a 36-16 record in season openers and has won the last three games, in which the combined score was 46-16. Last season, in Wallace’s first season opener, the Knights claimed a 12-11 victory over Bryant thanks to a go-ahead sac fly from Braden Calise in the eighth and a three-up-three-down save from former Knight Chase Centala in the ninth.
A FAMILIAR FOE ON OPENING KNIGHT
This season marks the 11th time the Knights have faced Siena in its season opener. In the teams previous 10 opening series meetings, which began back in 2011, the Knights have won every opening game. In addition, they have only lost to Siena one time on opening weekend, the second game of the 2013 series. The last time these two teams faced was in 2023, in which the Black and Gold won the season opener by the score of 22-5 before they swept the three-game series by a total score of 35-7. The Knights will also open play having won 29 straight games over the Saints.
ABOUT SIENA
Siena finished its 2024 campaign with a 12-40 record, finishing ninth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The Saints have been picked to finish 11th in the MAAC Preseason Poll in 2025 and are led by head coach Alex Jurczynski. Jurczynski enters his second season as head coach at Siena.
Infielder Nick Bergamotto returns to the Saints for his junior season. He tied for second on the team in RBIs last season, bringing in 31. The infielder posted a .264 batting average with a .725 OPS and scored 38 runs in 2024. Junior outfielder Gavin Thorburn looks to keep the line moving behind Bergamotto. Thorburn started in 45 games in 2024 for the Saints, in which he batted .250 with 16 RBIs. Pitcher Noah Rodriguez led his team in 2024, in appearances (18), starting in four of them, and notched a 4.82 ERA, the second-best average on his team. Rodriguez also recorded 33 strikeouts in 46.2 innings pitched.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. SIENA
Friday’s 2025 Opening Knight will mark the 72nd all-time meeting between the Knights and Saints. UCF enters play holding to a commanding 67-4 series record, all of which have been played in Orlando. The 67 wins mark the most home victories against a Division I opponent in program history and also the fourth-most all-time wins over a Division I opponent. The Knights will enter having won 29 straight games over Siena, a streak that began on Feb. 17, 2013.
CASTELLANO AND STAGLIANO TABBED PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12
Both of Orlando’s favorite Doms, senior pitchers Dominic Castellano and Dom Stagliano, were named to the 2025 Preseason All-Big 12 Baseball Team. Last season Castellano was the Knights’ top relief pitcher. He put together a 7-0 record with a 2.83 ERA, three saves in 60.1 innings and an opposing batting average of .164. Stagliano was the Knights’ top starting pitcher in 2024, as he went 3-4 with a 4.10 ERA and struck out 66 batters in 74.2 innings. He also finished with one of the best WHIP and strikeouts per nine innings in the nation, as he ranked 19th nationally in WHIP (1.02) and 28th in hits per nine innings (6.51). for their performances, Castellano was named ABCA/Rawlings Southeast All-Region Second Team and Big 12 Conference honorable mention accolades, while Stagliano received All-Big 12 Second Team recognition.
CASTELLANO AND SOSNOWKSI NAMED TO NCBWA PRESEASON STOPPER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST
A pair of UCF relievers were named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List in Dominic Castellano and Kris Sosnowski. The senior southpaw Castellano went a perfect 7-0 in 2024 with a 2.83 ERA, three saves and 68 strikeouts in 60.1 innings, whlie the redshirt junior RHP Sosnowski posted a 1-0 record with a 3.38 ERA, six saves and 40 punchouts in 37.1 innings.
TRIO OF KNIGHTS NAMED TO D1BASEBALL’S PRESEASON PLAYER LIST
A trio of Knights were named to D1Baseball Preseason Player Lists prior to the season in relief pitcher Kris Sosnowski, starting pitcher Dom Stagliano and third baseman Kendrey Maduro. The redshirt junior and 2024 UCF closer Sosnowski led the group by checking in at No. 16 on D1Baseball’s Top 100 Relievers, while the senior Stagliano was ranked No. 85 on the Top 150 Starting Pitchers and junior college transfer Kendrey Maduro is tabbed No. 43 on the Top 50 Third Basemen preseason ranking.
OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN
As voted on by the players, UCF named six captains prior to the 2025 season in pitchers Dominic Castellano (Sr., LHP), Wiley Hartley (RSr., RHP) and Kris Sosnowski (RJr., RHP), as well as infielders Lex Boedicker (Sr., 1B) and Braden Calise (RJr, 2B) and catcher Dylan King (RJr.).
The six captains will bring a combined total of 19 prior seasons of collegiate experience to the mix, as Boedicker, Castellano, Calise, King and Sosnowski have played three years apiece and Hartley four. All six captains have postseason experience from playing on last season’s team that made it to the Tallahassee Regional.
BAUER IS BACK
Senior RHP Spencer Bauer was granted an extra year of eligibility prior to the spring semester and is back for his sixth season of collegiate eligibility. Bauer was a key reliever for the Knights last year in which he went 2-1 with a 4.32 ERA and struck out 37 batters over 24 appearances. He will look to be a key piece to UCF’s bullpen this year.
JUMPING OVER FROM JUCO
Of the Knights 18 transfers, eight are coming from junior colleges. Seven of them come from schools in Florida while the eighth player, junior right-handed pitcher Kevin Schoneboom, comes from Texas (Northeast Texas). The seven from Florida JUCOs are Erick Almonte (Jr., INF, State College of Florida), Edian Espinal (Jr., INF, Chipola), Kendrey Maduro (Jr., INF, Northwest Florida State), Aris Rivera (Jr., C, Polk State), Angelo Smith (Jr., RHP, Indian River State), Carter Stanford (Jr., RHP, Tallahassee State) and Payton Waters (Jr., RHP, St. Johns River State). Big things are expected from the group, as Maduro is slated to be the team’s starting third baseman and a number of the pitchers are anticipated to be key contributors.
ON DECK
Following this weekend’s opening series, the Knights will remain home to welcome SEC foe Missouri to John Euliano Park for a Wednesday midweek on Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m. Following the contest, UCF will welcome Bryant to town for a three-game series that weekend (Feb. 21-23). In all, the Black and Gold will play 13 of their first 16 games at home during the first month of the season.