Baseball Opens Road Swing Wednesday at #21 UCF
Miami (7-8, 2-1 ACC) at #21 UCF (14-3, 0-0 American)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule | Game Notes
March 14, 2018 | 6:30 p.m.
John Euliano Park | Orlando, Fla.
ORLANDO — The Miami Hurricanes will be opening their first true road trip of the season Wednesday, March 14 at #21 UCF. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. from John Euliano Park.
From Orlando, Miami will travel to Durham, N.C., for a three-game series against No. 23 Duke at Durham Bulls Athletic Park beginning Friday, March 16.
The stretch marks an important early-season test for the Hurricanes, who have only played one ranked opponent this season – then-No. 1 Florida, in weekend series from Feb. 23-25.
Freshman Daniel Federman (0-1, 1.62 ERA) will make the first start of his collegiate career Wednesday vs. the Knights, who have won 13 games in a row in a stretch dating back to Feb. 23.
Federman ranks second in appearances this season with nine, all coming in relief. The Pembroke Pines, Fla., native has allowed three earned runs in 16.2 combined innings. He is holding opponents to a .167 batting average with 15 strikeouts.
UCF is under the direction of second-year head coach Greg Lovelady, a two-time national champion at Miami in 1999 and 2001.
Miami got off to an impressive start in ACC play with a series win over Notre Dame from March 9-10 at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field. Back-to-back gems from starting pitchers Jeb Bargfeldt and Evan McKendry helped clinch the series victory for the Hurricanes, who lost Game 3 in extra innings, 9-5.
McKendry, who picked up a win for the third straight outing, was named ACC Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season after his 12-strikeout performance against Notre Dame.
Senior outfielder Hunter Tackett led the way at the plate for Miami this past weekend, batting .545 (6-for-11) and coming up with a highlight-reel catch that helped preserve a 3-0 shutout win in Game 1. Tackett had started just one game this season prior to earning three straight starts against the Fighting Irish.
Miami’s pitching staff held Notre Dame off the scoreboard for the first 19 innings of the series, with the Irish’s first run coming in the second inning of the third game of the series.
Wednesday’s game will be broadcast on WVUM 90.5 FM.
