TULSA, Okla. – On the strength of a career day from first baseman Shannon Doherty and a dominant relief effort by right-hander Kaitlyn Felton, the (RV) UCF softball team bounced back from its Saturday late-inning defeat in convincing fashion Sunday afternoon, routing the host Tulsa Golden Hurricane 13-1 at Collins Family Softball Complex to take the three-game series 2-1.
The winning effort pushed the Knights back to eight games over .500 overall at 27-19, and three games above in conference play with a 6-3 mark within The American. After it saw its seven-game win streak snapped Saturday, the Knights have now won eight of their last nine games and nine of their last 12 since the commencement of conference play March 24.
"We just wanted to end leaving Tulsa on a really good note," Felton said. "We wanted to prove why we're moving up to a better conference, and I think everyone had a chip on their shoulder from what happened yesterday."
Indeed, the Knights offense exploded for a season-high 13 runs, the team's most since its 15-10 upset win over then-No. 11 Texas during the 2022 Clearwater Invitational Feb. 19, scoring at least two runs in each of its five offensive half-innings except the second.
At the center of UCF's outburst was Doherty, who drove in a career-high six runs and recorded her second career multi-home run game, and her first since April 9, 2021 at ECU.
"I think I just really took a lot of time to watch film over the weekend and see what pitches they were throwing to me," Doherty said. "I had a good approach and a clear mind and relaxing, and I was waiting for my pitch. When my pitch came, I was ready to attack it."
She began her career day with a two-run homer in the first inning to punctuate a three-run frame after shortstop Jasmine Williams doubled in Kennedy Searcy to break the ice.
Doherty collected her third RBI of the day in the fourth, following a run-scoring single by right fielder Chloe Evans with one of her own, and the Coral Springs, Florida, native emphatically capped her afternoon with a long three-run shot that gave her squad its 11th, 12th and 13th runs of the day.
In the process, Doherty leapfrogged both Hillary Barrow and Breanne Javier on the program's all-time RBI list, jumping into sole possession of sixth place with 123 in her career. With 28 career home runs, she also moved to within two of becoming the fourth Knight in program history to reach the 30-homer benchmark.
"It's truly an honor to be up there with all those names," Doherty said. "Those are people on that list who have been staples of the program and set the standard. They're part of the reason why we're here. We talk about playing for the past, present and future all the time."
Micaela Macario added the Knights' third homer of the game and the second of her career, a three-run shot that headlined a five-run fourth inning. Her long ball marked her first since the Knights' 8-2 win over then-No. 25 Michigan during the 2023 Clearwater Invite opener Feb. 17.
Macario's home run highlighted a personal four-RBI day, marking a season high and her most in a single game since her career-high six against James Madison Feb. 26, 2022. Savannah Adams and Chloe Evans each added an RBI of their own to complete the team's offensive exploits.
The run support was more than enough for Felton, who entered in relief for right-hander Sarah Willis after the latter tossed 1.1 innings but worked her way into a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the second.
Felton traded a run for an out, inducing a fielder's choice groundout that cut UCF's lead to 3-1 at the time, but limited the damage with a second straight groundout to escape the threat.
On the back of the Knights' offense, Felton cruised through the remainder of the shortened contest, allowing just three more hits in her final three innings while collecting three strikeouts and forcing Tulsa into a pair of double plays.
"I just decided to keep it simple, I wasn't going to try to do too much," Felton added. "I was going to let my defense work for me and do what felt right for my body."
In collecting her sixth win of the season, Felton recorded her longest appearance by innings pitched (3.2) since her six-inning effort against then-No. 2 Oklahoma State in Stillwater March 17. She also recorded her first appearance of at least three innings pitched and one or fewer runs allowed since her 3.1-inning effort against North Dakota March 12.
"It makes it a lot easier if we're up by 12 runs to go back in there versus two," Felton continued. "Having such a good offense makes it fun to go back out there, and we always do the crazy plays. 'Jas' catching the line drive and doubling the girl off at second, and then ending the game with a double play, it makes it so fun to be out there."
UP NEXT
The Knights will begin a six-game homestand with a three-game set against the USF Bulls April 21-23 in the final iteration of the War on I-4 for the squad. First pitch from the UCF Softball Complex Friday evening is slated for 6 p.m. ET.
