Feb. 22, 2005
Tallahassee, Fla. - Stephanie Best and Amber Lamb combined for 8 RBI's in game one as UCF came away with a 14-9 victory on Tuesday. UCF lost the nightcap, 5-3 at the Lady Rattler Softball Complex. The Golden Knights have now won eight of their last 11 games.
"The heart of our line-up is really smacking the ball right now," head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said after the first game. "They have come up in big ways with big hits in clutch situations over the last five games."
UCF jumped on the Rattlers early in game one grabbing a 6-0 advantage putting three runs on the board in both the first and second innings.
Cici Alvarez started the frame with a bunt single, and stole second base. Alvarez came across for the game's opening run on a triple by Jania Shinhoster that sailed over the leftfielder's head. Shinhoster scored on a RBI single by Best putting the Golden Knights went up 2-0. Best moved to second on a Crystle Krafft ground out, and was brought home on a two-out RBI single by Cat Snapp.
All the damage in the second inning was done with two outs. Alvarez, and Shinhoster drew back-to-back walks to start the rally. UCF pushed the lead to 5-0 as Best drove both runners home in a RBI triple, and Best came across on a Lamb RBI single.
FAMU rallied with five runs on six hits in the third inning. The lead was trimmed to 6-5 on a three-run home run by Alacia Strafford that barely cleared the right field fence.
Kelly McIntyre came in for relief, and improved her mark to 3-0 on the season. She retired the first eight batters she faced taking her into the sixth inning.
"Kelly came in during a situation when the game was still in doubt," Luers-Gillispie said. "She shut them down, and allowed our offense to regroup. We did, and gave her some much needed run support."
UCF went back on the offensive scoring two runs in the fourth, and three runs in the fifth giving McIntyre an 11-5 cushion to work with.
The Golden Knights used two Rattler errors, and two walks in the fourth while Best picked up her fourth RBI of the game on a fielders choice in the fifth. Lamb also recorded a sacrifice fly during the fifth.
McIntyre helped her own cause in the sixth with a RBI single scoring pinch-hitter Nicole Balogh extending the lead to 12-5.
The Rattlers scored a run in the sixth, and Lamb responded with a two-run blast scoring Ashley Van Ryn in the seventh inning making it 14-6.
FAMU charged back with three runs in the seventh for the final margin of 14-9.
"Florida A&M is a scrappy team, and they weren't about to give up by any stretch of the imagination," Luers-Gillispie said. "Our girls had to fight hard to hold onto the win."
UCF charged out to a quick 1-0 advantage to start game two as Alvarez and Shinhoster reached on infield hits. Lamb drove home Alvarez on a sacrifice fly to center field.
The Rattlers responded in the home half of the inning using aggressive base running, and capitalized on two walks along with two UCF errors grabbing a 2-1 lead.
Lindsay Enders settled into a groove after a tough first inning, and had a stretch where she retired nine consecutive hitters.
The Golden Knights executed another two-out rally in the fourth inning evening the game at two when Ashley Baker ripped a RBI single into leftfield platting Kacie Feaster.
UCF retook the lead, 3-2 in the fourth inning when Best smashed her 50th career home run.
The Rattlers took the lead back at 5-3 with three runs in the sixth inning. Kenycia Byrd reached on an error, and scored on a RBI triple by Danielle Brown. Brown scored the go-ahead run another UCF miscue.
UCF heads down to Miami this weekend for the Golden Panther Invitational. The Golden Knights open with Florida A&M and Connecticut on Friday. Game times are set for 1:30 and 6:30 p.m.
Game One Notes:
Shelly Frick made her first start as a Golden Knight at designated player... Game one was the eighth time in 17 games that UCF has scored in the first inning... The Golden Knights are now 5-3 this season when scoring in the first inning... UCF scored in six of the seven innings... With two stolen bases in game one, Cici Alvarez is now five-for-five in that department this season... Alvarez and Jania Shinhoster combined for seven of the 14 runs... With four RBI's, Stephanie Best now has 167 career RBI's... Nine of Amber Lamb's 16 hits this season have produced runs for the Golden Knights... The 14 runs and 12 hits are both season highs for UCF.
Game Two Notes:
Jania Shinhoster stole her program leading 55th career stolen base in the first inning... Alvarez also picked her 20th career steal in the first... With the sacrifice fly, Lamb took the brief team lead driving home 15 RBI's... Stephanie Best call cocked her 50th career home run, and her 15 RBI of the season in the fourth inning... The Golden Knights committed a season-high five errors, and 13 left runners on base.