Preview: UCF Knights at Stetson Hatters

DELAND, Fla. (Interstat) — The surging UCF Knights look to continue their winning ways when they visit the Stetson Hatters in a nonconference baseball matchup Tuesday at Melching Field.

UCF (15-7) enters with momentum, having won two of three on the road at TCU, including a 9-1 victory Sunday. The Knights have won five of their last six series.

Stetson (11-14) seeks consistency after splitting a four-game set with West Georgia, taking the finale 10-6 on Sunday.

A key matchup will feature UCF’s pitching against Stetson’s lineup. Knights right-hander Camden Wicker is coming off a dominant performance, throwing 6 2/3 no-hit innings with four strikeouts in Sunday’s win at TCU. In his last four appearances, Wicker has a 3.18 ERA with 13 strikeouts over 18 innings.

The Hatters will counter with outfielder Landon Russell, who powered Sunday’s win with a two-hit, three-RBI performance that included a home run. Russell is batting .333 (7 for 21) with seven RBIs over his last five games.

UCF’s offense erupted for 18 runs in the series opener at TCU last Friday and is averaging 7.2 runs per game during its current 6-2 stretch. Catcher Zak Skinner went a perfect 5 for 5 with two RBIs in Sunday’s win.

Stetson’s pitching staff will aim to rebound after allowing seven or more runs in three of its last five games. The Hatters are 2-5 in their last seven games against Division I opponents.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, UCF is projected to win 8-5.

This is the first of two scheduled meetings between the in-state programs this season. They will meet again at UCF on April 7.

Following Tuesday’s game, UCF begins a three-game home series against Arizona on Friday. Stetson opens ASUN Conference play on the road at Florida Gulf Coast, also on Friday.