Big 12 baseball: Kansas State at UCF

ORLANDO, Fla. (Interstat) — UCF hosts Kansas State on Thursday at Jay Bergman Field in the opener of a three-game Big 12 series.

First pitch is set for 6 p.m. EDT. The forecast calls for 83 degrees and cloudy.

UCF (29-19) enters as the hotter team, having won five of its last six games, including a 19-3 rout of Baylor on May 9. Kansas State (26-23) dropped two of three to Cincinnati last weekend but salvaged the series finale with a 5-2 win Sunday.

Pitcher to watch: James Guyette, Kansas State

Guyette (5-4) threw a complete game Sunday against Cincinnati, scattering three hits and two earned runs while striking out 13. That performance marked a stark turnaround for the right-hander, who had allowed 12 earned runs over 10 innings across his previous two starts. In his best outing of the season, Guyette held Arizona to one run on no hits over six innings in a 2-1 win April 17. He has 43 strikeouts in 55 2/3 innings this season.

Hitter to watch: John Smith, UCF

Smith, the Knights’ left fielder, has been one of UCF’s most productive bats. Over his last three games against Baylor, he went 8-for-15 with a home run and five RBIs. Smith also homered twice in a 12-4 win over Utah on April 25 and drove in four runs in the first game of that doubleheader. He is hitting .316 on the season with eight home runs and 40 RBIs.

Recent results

Kansas State is coming off a series loss to Cincinnati. After dropping 5-3 and 4-2 decisions Friday and Saturday, the Wildcats won the finale behind Guyette’s complete game and a two-RBI day from catcher Bear Madliak. Shortstop Dee Kennedy homered and drove in two runs in the win.

UCF last played Sunday, falling 8-7 at Baylor despite Smith’s 4-for-5, two-RBI performance. Center fielder DeAmez Ross added a home run and three RBIs.

Series outlook

Thursday’s game is the first of a two-game set at Jay Bergman Field (games Friday and Saturday follow). Interstat’s game simulator projects a 6-1 UCF victory. The Knights have outscored opponents 76-46 over their last 10 games. Kansas State has lost eight of its last 10.