Feb. 26, 2005
MIAMI, Fla. - The UCF softball team finished pool play with a 7-0 stomping of UConn in the Golden Panther Adidas Invitational on Saturday morning.
"That effort this morning is the definition of UCF softball. This is how we are supposed to play the game day in and day out," head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said. "I don't want to say it was the perfect game that all coaches strive for, but it was pretty darn close."
The Golden Knights tallied two runs sending seven batters to the plate in the first inning. Cici Alvarez reached on a throwing error by the third basemen, and was awarded second base when the ball went into the UConn dugout. UCF loaded the bases as Jania Shinhoster and Stephanie Best drew back-to-back walks.
Amber Lamb picked up her 18th RBI this season with a sacrifice fly giving UCF a quick 1-0 advantage, while Shinhoster scored on a ground out by Crystle Krafft making it 2-0.
UCF struck again in the third inning expanding the lead to 5-0. The Golden Knights loaded the bases again as Lamb and Krafft opened the frame with back-to-back singles, while Bryttani Lindheim walked.
Cat Snapp punched a ground ball that went off the second baseman's glove allowing Lamb, and a hustling Krafft to score. Kelly McIntyre helped her own cause pushing the lead to 5-0 with a bloop single into left field.
"Crystle was hustling all over the place this morning," Luers-Gillispie said. "Some of the plays she made defensively were simply amazing."
That was all the support that McIntyre needed retiring the final 14 batters. McIntyre tossed her first complete game shutout giving up only two hits and throwing 72 pitches. She improved to 5-0 on the season.
"That's major leagues right there," Luers-Gillispie said. "She was working ahead the entire day showing a lot of poise and character out there trusting her defense to make the plays. For the second straight day she really controlled the tempo of the game."
The Golden Knights tacked on two more runs in the sixth on RBI singles by Ashley Baker and Best. The inning started on a triple by pinch-hitter Ashley Van Ryn.
"It's good to see our freshman step up with back-to-back pinch hits to lead off an inning," Luers-Gillispie said. "You never know when you will be called upon to step up, and that just improves our depth."
UCF plays Connecticut later on tonight in bracket play at 6:30 p.m. with the winner earning a spot in the championship game of the Golden Panther Adidas Invitational. You can follow all the action live from Miami by clicking on the live stats link on ucfathletics.com
Game Notes:
This is the 14th time in 21 games that UCF has scored first... The Golden Knights are now 11-3 when scoring first this season, and are 7-4 when scoring in the first inning... Amber Lamb tied Stephanie Best for the team-lead with 18 RBI, and has 35 RBI for her career after driving in 17 runs all of last season... The triple by Ashley Van Ryn in the sixth inning was her first career extra base hit at UCF... Best re-took the team-lead with her 19th RBI in the sixth inning... Kelly McIntyre is 10-2 in her last 12 decisions... UCF improved to 42-1 over the last two seasons when taking a lead into the seventh inning.