ORLANDO, Fla. (Interstat) — A surging Murray State squad aims to continue its strong start to the season when it visits UCF for a three-game series opener at Jay Bergman Field on Friday.

The Racers (10-3) bring a potent offense north, having scored 10 or more runs in four of their last six victories. They are looking to bounce back from a 5-2 midweek loss at Middle Tennessee on Tuesday.

Despite that defeat, Murray State’s pitching showed promise. Reliever Carter Boyd, a key player to watch, threw three hitless innings with one earned run against the Blue Raiders. Over his last three appearances spanning 6 2/3 innings, Boyd has allowed just two earned runs and one hit while striking out four.

The Knights (6-5) are coming off a 12-5 win over Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday, powered by a breakout performance from outfielder Andrew Williamson. He went 4 for 5 with a home run and five RBIs in that contest, providing a needed spark for a UCF lineup that was shut out by LSU and scored just one run against Indiana last week.

Friday’s game will be a test of Murray State’s road form against a UCF team seeking consistency. The Racers are 2-2 in true road games this season, while the Knights are 4-3 at home.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a high-scoring affair, favoring Murray State 8-4.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. EDT under cloudy skies with a game-time temperature near 77 degrees.

The series continues Saturday and Sunday at Jay Bergman Field before both teams diverge in their schedules. Murray State travels to Lindenwood next weekend, while UCF prepares for a midweek matchup with Miami (FL) before hosting Oklahoma State.