GAME DAY INFORMATION
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DATE: March 13, 2024
TIME: Wednesday: 6:00 PM
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LOCATION: John Euliano Park
Orlando, Fla. |
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GAME DAY LINK
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LIVE STATS
LIVE VIDEO
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THE LEAD
The Stetson University baseball team will hit the road for just the second time this season, following their series sweep of the Bradley Braves last weekend. The now head to Orlando for an interstate rivalry with the UCF Knights on Wednesday, March 13. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 PM at John Euliano Park with the action set to be streamed on ESPN+.
INSIDE THE SERIES
In the long standing history between the two rivals, Stetson trails in the series with a 52-79 record. While they hold a 29-40 record at home, they trail 23-36 when playing in Orlando. The Hatters enter on a three game skid against the Knights, having last met in a 6-7 road loss on April 18, 2023. The series dates all the way back to March 1, 1975 when the Hatters dropped the inaugural game at home, 7-8. Over their 131 previous meetings, the Hatters have scored a total of 743 runs, 5.67 per game.
SCOUTING THE HATTERS (12-5, 0-0 ASUN)
Stetson approaches the weekday matchup coming off a series sweep against Bradley, which was capped off by a 7-3 win on Sunday. They hit the road for the second time this season after falling to the Georgia Bulldogs last Wednesday.
The bats were hot over the weekend, including freshman third baseman Nelphie Lopez, who started all four games at the hot corner. Lopez batted .545 over the four game slate, six for 11, hitting his first career homerun on Sunday.
Labrador went five for 12 with five RBIs but it was Yohann Dessureault who provided the power. Once again, the junior second baseman hit a pair of homeruns in the weekend as he continues to lead the team with six long balls in addition to 17 RBIs.
Gio Cueto continues to lead the Hatters with a .351 batting average, going 20 for 57 thus far. He launched his first homerun as a Hatter in game one of Saturday's double-header. He also leads the team with 19 runs batted in and seven doubles.
Daniel Paret earned his third win of the season, striking out nine through five shutout innings pitched against Bradley on Sunday.
SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS (9-4, 0-3 BIG12)
Following a win over #4 Florida, the Knights had their first taste of conference play this season, dropping all three games of their series on the road at Oklahoma. They enter the midweek matchup with a 9-4 record and a home record of 6-1.
The Knights are led on offense by
Andrew Estrella, who will face his former club for the first time. Estrella is batting .310 with nine extra base hits, four of which have been homeruns. He also leads the team with 18 RBIs.
Matt Prevesk, who has started all 13 games in the outfield, has been a tough out with a .377 average. The junior has gone 20 of 53 with a .452 OB%.
RHP Wiley Hartley gets the starting nod for the Knights on Wednesday. He holds a 5.79 ERA over 4.2 innings pitched with a record of 0-1 in four appearances this season. Hartley has held opponents to a .222 average while striking out six of the 18 batters faced.
The Knights were projected 10th in the Big 12 Preseason Coaches' Poll with 45 points, finishing ahead of Baylor, BYU, and Cincinnati.
NEXT UP
Stetson will stay on the road as they head to Jacksonville for the start of conference play on March 15-17.
