FORT MYERS, Fla. – Another day, another fast offensive start, and another Grace Jewell gem.
The blueprint for the (RV) UCF softball team's latest win, a 7-2 road victory over the FGCU Eagles at the FGCU Softball Complex Wednesday evening, has remained largely the same during the Knights' current five-game win streak, but it's worked all the same.
The Knights (24-18, 4-2 AAC) improved to six games over .500 with their five-run victory Wednesday, spearheaded by 5.2 innings of one-run ball by Jewell and at least one run in the first inning for the fourth consecutive game.
"Offensively, getting the momentum they have, eroding their pitcher and their defense as a collective unit, and starting to feed off each other," said head coach Cindy Ball-Malone of the team's impressive attributes during the win streak. "Our pitching and defense is controlling the momentum of the game, we're eliminating back-to-back-to-back [baserunners]. I just like how we're flowing with that, and I want to see us continue to keep getting better."
UCF jumped all over Eagles (24-16, 6-3 ASUN) starter Claire Maulding in the top of the first inning, swatting four hits and drawing one free pass en route to plating a trio of runs before Jewell threw her first pitch.
Junior transfer outfielder Chloe Evans came through with a pair of runners on base, doubling down the right field line to score Jada Cody, and shortstop Jasmine Williams hit a well-placed single up the middle with the bases loaded later in the frame, sending Chloe and Aubrey Evans home.
The three-run first inning Wednesday came on the heels of one run in the first inning of both of the Knights' first two games at ECU over the weekend, and a pair of first-inning runs in the team's finale against the Pirates Sunday afternoon.
The first inning has been the most prolific for the Knights offensively through 42 games overall, as the team has now scored 43 first-inning runs this season, the most of any single inning.
"They're studying whoever we're facing, and have a plan and attacking it," Ball-Malone said of the squad's fast starts of late. "That sets the tone for us, definitely. First-inning scoring and putting us on top right away, and then how we've been shutting the door in the last couple of innings has been awesome. Just continuing to do what we do. It's nothing out of our realm, it's just playing UCF softball."
UCF tallied one more in the second to extend its lead to 4-0, which represented more than enough support for Jewell, in the midst of her breakout junior season. The Chesapeake, Virginia, native retired the side in order in the home half of the first and started a 1-6-3 double play in the second to work around a leadoff walk.
Jewell retired six more consecutive hitters before an Eagles runner reached on an error, but the right-hander was unfazed. A pair of flyouts to center saw her safely through the fourth, and despite allowing her first two hits of the game in the bottom of the fifth, she managed to tightrope her way out of a bases-loaded, two-out jam to hold FGCU off the scoreboard.
"I'm super proud of her, she's worked really hard, she's buying into the process, she's understanding that she needs to keep developing and growing," Ball-Malone said of Jewell. "She's not just sticking with one pitch, and I love that. She's brave enough to throw other pitches out there and work on her third or fourth pitch. Watching her, she looks two or three inches taller and is really embracing the role of a queen."
An Eagles single and RBI double that cut UCF's lead to three in the sixth led Ball-Malone to turn to right-hander Kaitlyn Felton in relief, who stifled the FGCU rally and limited the damage to one run.
In earning her eighth win of the season, Jewell recorded her ninth appearance of the year of five or more innings, and since her 6.1-inning effort against North Florida March 29, she has posted a 0.60 ERA (23.2 IP, 2 ER) in her last four appearances.
The Knights would plate three more insurance runs in the seventh inning, courtesy of a Shannon Doherty solo blast, a long RBI double to center field by Sarah Willis, and an infield single by pinch-hitter Olivia Elliott.
In clubbing her fifth home run of the season, Doherty became the fourth Knight in program history with at least 25 career long balls, behind Stephanie Best (71), Jania Shinhoster (33) and current teammate Cody (31). She also recorded the 114th RBI of her collegiate career, moving to within four of tying Hillary Barrow (118) for seventh place on the UCF all-time list.
Southpaw Angelina DeVoe made her first appearance since March 26 against then-No. 22 Wichita State as well, recording the final two outs to seal the Knights' 24th victory of the campaign. The outing marked a strong bounce-back appearance for the Carson, California, native, who had yielded two runs in each of her previous three appearances spanning 2.0 innings pitched.
"That's what the schedule was made for," Ball-Malone said of gaining momentum entering the thick of the team's conference slate. "To put us in a position to play our best game at the end of the year. Just continuing to get momentum going into the conference tournament and rolling into the postseason."
UP NEXT
The Knights will enjoy bye weekend of sorts to rest, recover and prepare for their next contest, a home matchup against the FIU Panthers Tuesday, April 11 when the team will also host its Autism Awareness Day. First pitch from the UCF Softball Complex is slated for 3 p.m.