Feb. 20, 2005
ORLANDO, Fla. - UCF scored all three runs in the third inning with two outs as the Golden Knights beat Longwood, 3-1 on Sunday afternoon at the UCF Softball Complex. The Golden Knights have now won seven of their last nine games.
The Golden Knights started the two-out rally as Cici Alvarez reached on an error, and moved to second on an infield hit by Stephanie Best.
UCF scored the first of their three runs on a RBI double by Amber Lamb platting Alvarez, and allowing Best to move to third.
"There wasn't a lot of movement on the pitch," Lamb said. "It was supposed to be a curve ball, but it didn't move at all. I was able to drive the ball off the wall."
The next batter, Crystle Krafft, kept the rally going driving in two more runs on a RBI single giving the Golden Knights a 3-0 advantage. UCF has now scored 37 oft their 68 runs with two out.
"We keep telling the girls not to give up on an inning, and they really taken that message to heart," head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said. "Amber and Crystle got some clutch hits that ended up being the difference in the game."
Longwood scored a run in the fourth capitalizing on a UCF error. Lindsay Enders gave up no earned runs in five innings of work, and struck out two.
Enders gave way to Ashley Baker who pitched two scoreless innings, and picked up her first career save.
"I was glad I was able to come in, and shut the door, Baker said. "I had a lot of help from my teammates out there picking up the ground balls."
UCF travels to the state capital on Tuesday afternoon for a doubleheader against with Florida A&M. The Rattlers upended the Golden Knights, 6-3 at the Clearwater Invitational on Feb. 4th, but UCF leads the all-time series 2-1. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m.
Game Notes:
Best stole her 40th career base in the first inning... The Golden Knights scored first for the 10th time in 17 games... With her sacrifice bunt in the fifth inning, Alvarez picked her 30th career sacrifice hit... Shinhoster picked up her fifth stolen base of the season, and her 54th career stolen base in the sixth inning... Baker picks up her first save of her career pitching two innings of scoreless relief... UCF is now 40-1 over the last two seasons when leading after six innings.