On Ray: Switch hitting middle infielder who is primed for a breakout season ... made the switch from second to third base in the fall and played brilliantly at the hot corner ... versatile infielder who can play second, third and shortstop ... UCF[apos]s leadoff hitter who is a threat to steal at any time ... one of the fastest players on the team ... has a strong arm and great range ... enters the season 10th in UCF history with 53 career stolen bases.
As a Sophomore (2005): Spent the majority of the season as UCF[apos]s leadoff hitter ... played in 59 games, making 58 starts ... 46 starts at second base and 12 starts at shortstop ... led team with 32 stolen bases in 38 attempts ... 32 steals ranked eighth in UCF single-season history ... hit .279 for the season with three home runs and 40 RBI ... started both games of the FIU series (Feb. 5-6) ... two walks and a RBI in the season opener (Feb. 5) ... 1-for-3 with a double and run scored in the series finale (Feb. 6) ... 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI and a run scored vs. Bethune-Cookman (Feb. 8) ... scored two runs in a 10-3 victory over Le Moyne (Feb. 11) ... 1-for-4 with two steals vs. No. 20 Notre Dame (Feb. 19) ... 2-for-4 with two RBI at Bethune-Cookman (Feb. 22) ... 2-for- 5 with one RBI and run scored vs. Siena (Mar. 5) ... big night vs. St. Joseph[apos]s going 2-for-2 with three RBI and four runs scored ... .400 average in three-game series vs. Campbell (Mar. 11-12) ... scored five runs and drove in six along with two doubles ... career-high four RBI, three hits and three runs in series opener vs. the Camels (Mar. 11) ... 2-for-5 with two runs and one RBI vs. Columbia (Mar. 16) ... 2-for-4 with a run scored at Gardner-Webb (Mar. 18) ... first career home run (two-run shot) at No. 11 Florida (Mar. 22) ... 4-for-5 on the night with three RBI and two runs scored ... 3-for-5 with three runs and three RBI at Stetson (April 2) ... 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI at USF (April 5) ... 2-for-4 with a grand slam vs. Lipscomb (April 8) ... 2-for-4 in the second game of the Lipscomb series (April 9) before leaving the game early with a cut to his arm ... 0-for-1 with two RBI and two runs vs. Bethune-Cookman (April 13) ... 3-for-6 and scored two runs at Belmont (April 15) ... 1-for-3 with a two-run home run vs. the Bruins (April 16) ... 2-for-4, including perfect bunt single vs. Georgia State (May 14) ... scored two runs in the series finale vs. the Panthers (May 15) ... 2-for-4 with two runs scored at Mercer (May 19).
As a Freshman (2004): Named to the A-Sun all-freshman team ... hit .316 in 52 games including 45 starts ... 21 stolen bases in 23 attempts ... four doubles, two triples and 26 RBI ... played in both games of the FIU series, making his first career start in the series finale (Feb. 8) ... walked and scored a run vs. #2 LSU (Feb. 14) ... 1-for-4 including first career hit vs. Utah (Feb. 22) ... recorded seven-game hit streak from Feb. 22 - Mar. 20 ... 2-for-3 with two runs and a double vs. Wagner (Mar. 17) ... 1-for-2 with two runs and two RBI at Campbell (Mar. 20) ... scored two runs at Bethune-Cookman (Mar. 23) ... 2-for-4 with a pair of stolen bases vs. Stetson (Mar. 27) ... first career 4-for-4 game vs. Bethune-Cookman (Mar. 30) ... also scored two runs and drove in a pair vs. the Wildcats ... 2-for-4 with two runs and two stolen bases at Jacksonville (Apr. 3) ... 2-for-4 with a RBI and run scored at No. 24 Florida Atlantic (Apr. 9) ... second career four-hit game in the second game of the FAU series (Apr. 10) ... 4-for-4 with three runs scored ... 2-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base vs. Belmont (Apr. 16) ... 2-for-4 with a RBI in UCF[apos]s 3-0 win over Belmont (Apr. 17) ... 1-for-2 with a run scored and game-winning two-RBI single vs. USF (May 4) ... 2-for-4 with RBI-double at Clemson (May 8) ... 2-for-2 with three runs, two RBI and three stolen bases vs. Mercer (May 14) ... 2-for-4 with three RBI and two steals at Georgia State (May 21) ... 2-for-5 with another two steals in series finale vs. the Panthers (May 22) ... named to A-Sun All-Tournament Team (May 26-28) and was also named to the A-Sun All-Freshmen Team (May 25) ... 2-for-4 with two steals, two runs including a RBI-triple vs. Campbell (May 26) ... 2-for-5 with two runs vs. Gardner-Webb (May 26) ... 2-for-5 with RBI, stolen base and run scored vs. Troy State (May 28).
Prior to UCF: Four-year standout for his father and head coach David Ray at McMinn County High School in Athens, Tenn. ... all-state performer as a senior after hitting .438 with 31 stolen bases in 33 attempts ... .561 on-base percentage and 34 runs scored his senior campaign ... eight doubles, two home runs and 16 RBI senior season ... all-region, district selection ... also lettered in football and basketball in his prep career ... started all four seasons at shortstop ... .412 career batting average with 107 stolen bases and 117 runs scored ... hit .453 as a junior with 36 stolen bases in 38 attempts to garner region player of the year honors ... .561 on-base percentage as junior with 38 runs scored.
Personal: Matthew David Ray was born on Jan. 28, 1984 in Athens, Tenn. ... son of David and Sharen Ray ... father is head baseball coach at McMinn County High School ... a physical education major ... chose UCF over East Tennessee State, Austin Peay and Louisiana-Lafayette.
Ray[apos]s Year-By-Year Statistics Yr. Avg. G-GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI 2004 .316 52-45 174 45 55 4 2 0 26 2005 .279 59-58 229 57 64 12 1 3 40 Totals .295 111-103 403 102 119 16 3 3 66