ORLANDO – UCF baseball’s inaugural season as both a member of the Big 12 conference and under the leadership of head coach Rich Wallace was one that saw the program reach heights it hadn’t seen in years. As a result, the Knights enter the 2025 season with a lot of excitement and expectations.
“We’re obviously excited to get the season going and very optimistic about this group,” Wallace said. “We had a very productive fall, not only on the field but off the field, with a record setting GPA in the classroom. That’s not an easy thing to accomplish when you have as many newcomers as we do, but the returners have done a nice job of helping them get acclimated to how we do things, and that process has been great. Again, we’re really excited about this group. Our staff is looking forward to seeing how we can grow this thing and if we can compete for a Big 12 title down the stretch.”
UCF finished the 2024 campaign at 37-21 and 14-15 in the conference play. The Knights got off to a 9-1 start, their best since 2020, thanks to a season opening win over Bryant, followed by a road win over Miami, a three-game series sweep over Samford, another road win over Florida Atlantic, two wins over rival USF and then a win over No. 4 Florida in Gainesville. The later win proved to be a highlight, as the Knights upset a team who was ranked No. 4 in the nation at the time. This also marked the Black and Gold’s fifth straight win over the Gators.
In April, the Knights would enter the top 25 national rankings for the first time since February 2021. The Knights were listed at No. 20 in the Perfect Game Top 25 Week Seven Poll and No. 25 in that week's D1Baseball poll. The following week, UCF would move up to be ranked No. 16 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, their highest ranking since March 9, 2020, when they were ranked 12th nationally by D1Baseball, Collegiate Baseball, and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. The Knights would continue to receive votes nationally throughout the season.
On May 11, the Black and Gold upset No.18 Texas on Senior Knight. On a day when 17 players were honored before the game, it was an RBI tiple hit in the eighth inning by senior Danny Neri that helped the Knights earn the ranked win.
In their first ever big 12 tournament, UCF would make a deep run to the tournament semifinal. This run would see an upset win over the eventual tournament champion and 17th-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys, as well as a Big 12 Championship record three-home run game from Neri.
In Wallace’s first season as head coach, the Knights would make their first NCAA tournament berth since 2017. The team was selected to play in the Tallahassee Regional, where they would defeat both Alabama and Stetson to make the final, before falling to an eighth-ranked Florida State team who would go on to make the College World Series. In all, UCF posted a 19-3 record in non-conference play in 2024, which included an 11-1 midweek record and a 14-4 clip against Sunshine State opponents.
Year two of the Wallace and Big 12 era will begin on Feb. 14 when the Knights welcome Siena to town for the first a three-game series. After a midweek contest against Missouri, the Black and Gold will then host Bryant (Feb. 21-23). Some of the other notable opponents UCF will face in its non-conference slate is a three-game series at South Florida (Feb. 28 – March 2) and home battles against No. 10 Florida (March 4) and Miami (March 11).
Following the Miami game, the Knights will officially begin Big 12 play at BYU March 13-15. UCF’s first home league series will come March 21-23 when it welcomes Houston to John Euliano Park. During conference play, the Black and Gold will also host Kanas (April 4-6), TCU (April 17-19), West Virginia (April 25-27) and Baylor (May 15-17).
“We learned last season that anyone in our league can beat you,” Wallace said. “The travel from time-to-time can also beat you down, but we tried to setup our schedule and will plan out each week in a way where we can be successful. We’re looking forward to getting out and competing.”
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) and sophomore outfielder Andrew Williamson (.258, 6 2B, 5 HR, 25 RBI, .744 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 reliever Alex Galvan (2-0, 5.06 ERA, 9 SO). Both Stagliano and Castellano were recently named Preseason All-Big 12 for the 2025 campaign.
In all, UCF welcomes back five returning position player starters from last year’s squad and 13 letterwinners.
NEW KNIGHTS
Of the newcomers, sophomore transfer Chase Krewson (OF from Duke) is 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 transfer Kendrey Maduro (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), Angelo Smith (RHP, Indian River State) and Grant Siegel (RHP, West Virginia), who redshirted for the Knights last year, will all 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 Michael Kass (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 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.
UCF welcomes in a total of 27 newcomers to the squad, which includes 19 transfers and eight 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.”