Feb. 25, 2005
Miami, Fla. - Softball Rolls Past Florida A&M
MIAMI, Fla. - The UCF softball team opened the Golden Panther Adidas Invitational with a 7-1 victory over Florida A&M on Friday afternoon.
"This was a good way for us to start the tournament," head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said. "We've got a challenge ahead of us tonight against FIU, but if we play UCF softball we have a strong chance of coming out on top beating our second ranked team this season."
UCF (12-7) jumped out to a quick 1-0 advantage as Jania Shinhoster blooped a single into center field. Shinhoster stole second, and moved over to third base on a wild pitch. Amber Lamb provided a clutch two-out double to bring Shinhoster across.
The Golden Knights added another run in the second inning pushing the lead to 2-0. Cat Snapp punched a single, and got to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kelly McIntyre. This time it was Kacie Feaster who ripped a two-out RBI single to score Snapp.
UCF extended the lead to 4-0 platting two more runs in the third inning. Shinhoster drew a lead-off walk, and stole second base. Once again it was Lamb who brought Shinhoster home smashing a double off the center field fence. Lamb moved to third on a ground out by Crystle Krafft, and scored on a Bryttani Lindheim RBI single.
The Golden Knights tacked on another pair of runs in the fifth inning. Snapp delivered a two-out single scoring Stephanie Best and Krafft.
"She was locked in at the plate," Luers-Gillispie said. "She's really clicking, and hitting the ball to all parts of the field."
FAMU broke thru on back-to-back-to-back hits to open the sixth inning making it 6-1, but McIntyre struck out two of the next three batters to get out of the jam.
McIntyre improved her record to 4-0 this season, and pitched her second complete game shut out stranding 10 Rattler runners on-base.
"This is the best that Kelly has pitched this season," Luers-Gillispie said. "She was in control the entire way making the hitters adjust to the way she was throwing."
Best provided the final blow clocking her sixth home run of the season off a palm tree in left center field for the final margin of 7-1.
UCF takes on No. 20 Florida International later on tonight in pool play at 6:30 p.m. before matching up with Connecticut tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m. You can follow all the action live from Miami by clicking on the live stats link on ucfathletics.com
Game Notes:
This is the 13th time in 18 games that UCF has put the first dent of the scoreboard... The Golden Knights are now 10-3 when scoring first this season, and are 6-4 when scoring in the first inning... Jania Shinhoster swiped her program leading 56th and 57th stolen bases, and now has the team lead with eight this season... 10 of the 17 hits this season for Amber Lamb have produced runs for the Golden Knights... Cat Snapp went three-for-three with a pair of singles and a double... Best smacked her 51st career homer in the sixth inning... UCF has knocked in 46 two-out RBI's this season.