Feb. 4, 2005
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The UCF softball team opened the Clearwater Invitational on Friday afternoon at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex against No. 13 Tennessee and Florida A&M.
The Lady Vols slipped past the Golden Knights in game one, 4-0.
UT manufactured a run in the first inning as lead-off hitter Lindsay Schultzler reached on an infield single, and stole second base. Schultzler moved over to third on a wild pitch, and came around to score on a fielder's choice.
UCF hurler Lindsay Enters settled down, and gave up only one hit over the next four innings of action.
Tennessee platted their second run in the fifth inning using another infield hit, and a stolen base by Schultzler. After moving to third on a sacrifice bunt, clean-up hitter Stacey Jennings drew a walk. Jennings stole second, and Schultzler came into score on the ensuing throw to second base.
The Lady Vols added two more runs in the sixth on a two-out single by Ashley Cline.
UCF had two runners on-base in the seventh inning, but Tennessee was able to close out the game.
"Tennessee is a solid team," head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said. "They were able to take advantage of their opportunities, and that's what top 25 teams do."
In game two, Florida A&M jumped out to a 5-0 lead, and held on to defeat the Knights, 6-3.
After scoring a run apiece in the second and third inning, FAMU strung together back-to-back-to-back hits in the fourth inning with two outs. Those three runs came around to score on a walk, and an error.
The Golden Knights charged back with two runs of their own in the fifth inning. Kacie Feaster started the frame ripping a double into the left-center field gap, and moved to third on a wild pitch.
Jennifer Tomasetti battled back in the count to draw a walk. Tomasetti stole second, and Amber Lamb drove Feaster home on a sacrifice fly. She scored on a ground-out by Cici Alvarez later in the inning to make it 5-2.
The Rattlers got a run back in the seventh, but UCF countered with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning.
Kacie Feaster slapped another double, and scored on a RBI single by Lamb cutting the final margin to 6-3.
"We know what we have to do out there," Luers-Gillispie said. "We just have to go out, and do it. I have confidence that the girls will put their best foot forward tomorrow."
UCF hits the diamond tomorrow evening to match-up with DePaul and Gardner-Webb. First pitch against the Blue Demons is set for 5pm.