AP Sports Preview

ORLANDO, Fla. (Interstat) — UCF hosts Kansas State on Friday night at Jay Bergman Field in a Big 12 series opener, with the Knights aiming to build on a 29-19 record while the Wildcats look to bounce back from a 26-23 mark.

First pitch is set for 6 p.m. under clear skies, with a forecasted game-time temperature of 86 degrees.

UCF (29-19) enters after splitting a three-game series at Baylor, dropping the finale 8-7 on Sunday despite left fielder John Smith’s 4-for-5 performance with a home run and two RBIs. Smith, a key bat in the Knights’ lineup, has been productive over his last five games, going 10-for-24 with two homers and nine RBIs. He also drove in four runs during a doubleheader sweep at Utah on April 25.

Kansas State (26-23) arrives on a two-game winning streak after taking the final two games of a home series against Cincinnati. The Wildcats won 5-2 on Sunday behind pitcher James Guyette, who threw a complete game, allowing three hits and two earned runs with 13 strikeouts. Guyette has been erratic this season, following that gem with a stretch of four consecutive losses — including a 6-13 defeat at West Virginia on May 3 — before rebounding against the Bearcats. In his last six starts, the right-hander has a 5.40 ERA across 29 innings, with 37 strikeouts and 14 walks.

The two teams met Thursday in Orlando, but no score was reported. Friday’s matchup is the second of a four-game series, with the finale scheduled for Saturday.

UCF’s pitching staff has been solid, with right-hander Anthony Lariz throwing 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief Sunday against Baylor. The Knights are projected to win 6-1 by Interstat’s game simulator, but Kansas State will rely on Guyette to replicate his dominant outing against Cincinnati.

The Wildcats’ lineup features catcher Bear Madliak and shortstop Dee Kennedy, who drove in two runs each in Sunday’s win. Kennedy homered in that game.

Kansas State has dropped six of its last 10 games, while UCF has won seven of its last 10. Both teams are jockeying for position in the Big 12 standings as the regular season winds down.