The Bulls host the Knights for a four-game series starting Thursday.
MATCHUP: USF vs. UCF (four-game series)
SCHEDULE: Thurs., April 1 at 6 p.m., Fri., April 2 at 2 p.m. (DH), Sat., April 3 at 1 p.m.
FOLLOW: USF Live Stats I Twitter updates @USFBaseball
RADIO: BullsUnlimited (iheart Radio)
WATCH: ESPN+
TAMPA (March 31, 2021) – The USF Bulls (10-12) open American Athletic Conference play at home with a four-game series opposite the UCF Knights (10-14) in their first of two installments this season of the War On I-4. First pitch of the series opener on Thursday is set for 6 p.m. at USF Baseball Stadium.
The Bulls began their current nine-game homestand on Stetson with a 7-3 win in what is slated to be USF’s final non-conference tilt of the year.
The 2021 campaign marks the 50th anniversary of competition on the diamond between USF and UCF, dating back to 1971. The Bulls won that first meeting, 5-1, and lead the all-time series, 76-67.
Head coach Billy Mohl (4th season) has announced Jack Jasiak (Spring Hill), Dylan Burns (Vero Beach) and Collin Sullivan (Randolph, Mass.) as USF’s starting pitchers in each of the first three games, respectively. Saturday’s starter in the series finale is yet to be determined.
Jasiak (2-3, 3.58 ERA) is coming off a tough outing at No. 6 Texas Tech last weekend, but remains the ace of the staff. The redshirt freshman has a team-high 40 strikeouts, and has logged quality starts in four of six outings this year. Burns (1-3, 3.86) and Sullivan (0-0, 6.56) each turned in outstanding performances in their starts two weeks ago over the final two games vs. FAU to help lead the Bulls to a series win.
Drew Brutcher (Lakeland) and Matt Ruiz (Hialeah) continue to set the table atop the USF batting order. Carmine Lane (Lake Placid) leads the team in batting average (.361) and Roberto Peña (Caracas, Venezuela) has a team-best 20 RBI. Riley Hogan (Orlando) has reached base safely in 14 consecutive games. Jake Sullivan (Tampa) is hitting .529 over his last six games and Nick Gonzalez (Tampa) is batting .340 over his last 15 games.
Scouting UCF
At first glance, the Bulls and Knights matchup very closely with similar statistics offensively, defensively and on the mound. UCF has the edge in offensive power numbers, ranking 17th in the country in homers (31). With that power, comes a lot of swings and misses (246 Ks), but the Knights also rank 24th nationally in walks (135). When they aren’t trotting around the bases, the Knights also like to swipe them, ranking 22nd in stolen bases (35).
UCF and USF have had three similar opponents this season (FAU, Stetson, UNF). The Knights have a 5-5 record against those teams while the Bulls posted a 6-3 mark. Most notable on UCF’s schedule this year is a 2-1 series win in late February over then-No. 1-ranked Ole Miss.
Colton Gordon (3-2, 2.08 ERA), Kenny Serwa (0-0, 5.25), Jack Sinclair (1-2, 5.01) and AJ Jones (2-2, 4.91) have been announced as UCF’s series rotation, respectively. Gordon, a southpaw, ranks fourth nationally in strikeouts (55) and has only issued six walks over 39.0 IP.
Up Next
Following this four-game series, the Bulls host Tulane for four games beginning Friday, April 9.
About USF Baseball
The USF Baseball program played its first season in 1966 and is entering its 56th season in 2021. The Bulls have won 1,628 games entering the 2021 season and made 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, including three since 2015. The Bulls have won four conference tournament titles (3 Sun Belt and 1 Metro) and had 126 all-conference selections. USF baseball players have been recognized with All-America honors 12 times, most recently with third baseman David Villar in 2018. Four players were selected in the 2018 MLB Draft, including the program’s fourth first round selection in pitcher Shane McClanahan, who appeared in the 2020 World Series with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Bulls saw continued success in head coach Billy Mohl’s first season in 2018, reaching 36 wins, advancing to the semifinals of the conference tournament for the first time since 2012, and making the program’s latest NCAA Tournament appearance while also achieving a ranking in multiple polls for the final two months of the season.
– #GoBulls –
