Feb. 6, 2005
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The UCF softball team rolled past DePaul and Gardner-Webb in the second day of the Clearwater Invitational.
The Golden Knights jumped on DePaul in the first inning of game one.
Cici Alvarez lead-off the frame with a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch, and stole third base. Alvarez scored when Stephanie Best ripped the first pitch into center field giving UCF a 1-0 lead.
"It was good for us to jump out on DePaul early," head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said. "The girls really put their best foot forward, and rose to the challenge."
UCF extended the advantage to 3-0 in the fifth inning platting two runs.
Cat Snapp drew a walk, and moved to second on sacrifice bunt by Bryttani Lindheim. Ashley Baker came in to pinch-run for Snapp as the Blue Demons decided to intentionally walk Best. Baker and Best moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, and scored on a clutch two-out single by Amber Lamb.
"That was a huge hit for us," Luers-Gillispie said. "We were able to take advantage of the wild pitch, and it gave Lindsay (Enders) a little more breathing room out there."
Lindsay Enders threw her first complete game shut-out of the season only allowing four hits, and struck out the last two batters to win the game.
"Lindsay is a much more aggressive pitcher when she has the lead," Luers-Gillispie said. "It allows her to use all the pitches in her arsenal at her disposal."
The Golden Knights exploded and unleashed an offense fury in a 10-1 rout of Gardner-Webb in the second game.
UCF scored all ten of their runs, and sent 15 batters to the plate in the second inning.
Snapp opened the scoring ripping a homer inches shy of the leftfield foul pole to put UCF ahead 3-0. The Golden drew back-to-back-to-back walks to load the bases, and took advantages of a couple of Gardner-Webb errors putting more runs on the board.
Crystle Krafft smashed a home-run to clear the bases once again pushing the lead out to 8-0. UCF loaded the bases on three more walks, and Kelly McIntyre helped her own cause with a RBI single making 10-0.
"The girls were really hitting the ball strong in batting practice," Luers-Gillispie said. "It was good to see that translate on the playing field."
The Golden Knights match-up with in-state rival Florida in the Gold Bracket game tomorrow morning at 11am.