 "Photo: Mike Balducci")
After starting out slow, Erik Hempe now owns the third-highest average on the Knights baseball team.
The right fielder started his week with a homer against Florida, homered again against Tulane (his third of the season) in Game One and went 3-for-4 in Game Two. Though Hempe and Ryan Breen have been sharing the right field position, Hempe's average and production should keep him in the starting role for Tuesday's game.
Hempe, a junior college transfer, will be facing the Owls for the first time on Tuesday in the first of a home-and-home series with Florida Atlantic. The Knights will travel to Boca Raton this week and the Owls will make the return trip to Orlando on April 19.
Starting pitcher
Chase Bradford, who faced the Owls last season also, will take the mound on Tuesday. Bradford pitched five innings of relief, coming to the mound in the second inning. He struck out four and only gave up one run in the 14-3 UCF victory.
Bradford earned his first start as a Knight against Stetson this season and started last week against No. 4 Florida. The righty has proved that he has the ability to start and go deep into the game, though he only pitched two innings against Florida. Bradford sits at a 4.96 ERA and has walked only three batters this season.
What to Watch For
— Alex Hudak. At press time, the FAU left fielder led the team with a .436 average and has played in every game this season.
— D.J. Hicks and Jonathan Griffin. The power hitters are tied with a team-high seven home runs each.
— The UCF bullpen. In last week's defeat at Florida, head coach Terry Rooney used a committee. It took Bradford, Bryan Brown, Nick Cicio, Matt Collins, Danny Winkler, Hicks and Ronnie Richardson to get the job done in Gainesville.
"I like [pitching by design]," Rooney said. "I really do like doing that. It just keeps guys sharp for the weekend."
Notes
— Chris Taladay was 4-for-6 in last year's victory against the Owls while Austin Johnston was 2-for-2.
— The Knights have won three of their last five away games but have lost five (six if they lose on Sunday) of their last seven home games.
Common opponents
— FAU lost 13-2 to Florida; UCF beat Florida 4-3.
— FAU beat Miami 7-4 and lost to Miami 7-3; UCF lost 4-1.
— FAU beat Bethune Cookman 12-7; UCF beat B-CU 13-0.
— FAU has beaten and lost to South Alabama; UCF beat USA 9-4.
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