Following a home-and-home series split vs. No. 2 Florida, the ninth-ranked Knights return to the UCF Baseball Complex on Friday for a 6:30 p.m. meeting with Columbia. The first pitch on Saturday is set for 4 p.m., while the finale on Sunday begins at 1 p.m.
One of the toughest stretches to start the season continues for UCF against Columbia, the Ivy League champions. The Knights play 17 of their first 18 games against teams that competed in the NCAA Tournament a season ago.
Fans attending the series should to be familiar with the parking map. All lots around the UCF Baseball Complex are free on Friday and Saturday, while Garage F will be charging $10 on Sunday due to an arena event.
The Friday night matchup features senior right-handed pitcher Zach Rodgers (1-0, 2.63 ERA, 17 K) going up against the Lions' George Thanopoulos (0-1, 3.60 ERA, 5 K). Freshman Cre Finfrock (3-0, 2.25 ERA, 10 K) is the Saturday starter for the Knights, while taking the hill on Sunday is sophomore Robby Howell (2-0, 3.31 ERA, 14 K, 6 BB).
Columbia (2-2) split a four-game series on Feb. 27-Mar. 1 at then-No. 3 Houston, notching 5-4 (13 inn.) and 12-7 wins. Joe Falcone paces the Columbia offense with a .500 average, including four doubles and two homers.
Fans unable to make it out to the park can watch subscription video on UCF Knights All-Access. Gametracker is also available for each contest of the series.
Trending Topics for @UCF_Baseball
• The challenging stretch to start the season continues vs. Ivy-league champ Columbia. #UCF is slated to play 17 of its first 18 games vs. teams that compete in the NCAA Tournament last year. #ToughSchedule
• A new single-game record of 4,319 fans witnessed the first Top-10 tilt in program history as No. 9 #UCF registered a 4-3 win over No. 2 Florida at Jay Bergman Field. #HistoricKnight
• The Knights notched their first win over a top-two opponent, Florida, since a 5-0 road win at No. 2 Rice in 2009 and the first at home since 2004 when UCF defeated No. 2 LSU, 6-5 in 10 inn. #BigWin
• #UCF rose up to No. 9 in @D1Baseball, No. 10 in @CBNewspaper, No. 13 in @BaseballAmerica, No. 14 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll and No. 18 in @NCBWA. #Recognition
• The Knights won 10 games to start the season for the first time in school history and have notched wins over No. 11 Maryland, No. 15 Arkansas, No. 18 Ole Miss (2x) #RecordStart
• #UCF baseball and softball have combined to start the season 27-5. The Knights are one of four schools (UF, LSU, UCLA) to have both teams inside the Top 15 the ESPN/USA Today Baseball and Softball Polls. #UCFPower
• The Knights have earned all three @American_BSB Player of the Week honors to start the year, setting a program record (SS Moore - 2/16, 2B Marsh - 2/23, OF Woods - 3/2) #NewHerosEachWeek
• Sr. OF JoMarcos Woods was tabbed as the @American_BSB Player of the Week - .417 avg., 4 RBI, including the walk-off single on 2/27 vs. Ole Miss #WeeklyHonor
• RHP Cre Finfrock has started his #UCF career at 3-0 going up against No. 18 Ole Miss (4.1 IP, 2 K, 2 ER) , No. 11 Maryland (5.2 IP, 3 K, 2 ER) and Siena (6 IP, 5 K, 0 ER) to start his. #Finfrocking
• #UCF has had three pitchers notch saves this season - Spencer Davis (2), Trent Thompson (2), Kyle Marsh (1),Harrison Hukari (1). #Closers
• Jr. LHP Harrison Hukari (2-0) has logged a relief-best 11.0 innings and notched 15 punch outs to just two walks. He earned a relief win along with a save in the two wins over Ole Miss #LeftyDominance
The Knights are set to play a two-game series at Florida State beginning on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The teams conclude the set on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
UCF returns home on March 13-15 to host Fairfield for three games. Single-game tickets for the 2015 baseball season are currently on sale by clicking here or calling 407-823-1000.
Article written and provided by UCF Athletics.