March 18, 2005
ORLANDO - Cici Alvarez led the UCF softball team with a team-high .667 batting average as the Knights defeated Charleston Southern, 9-1 in six innings, and Northern Illinois, 8-0 in six innings. The Black and Gold improved to 25-16-1 on the season, while Charleston Southern is 9-24 and Northern Illinois is 10-7.
Alvarez was 4-6 at the plate with four singles, one run and one RBI. Jania Shinhoster was second on the team with a .625 batting average after going 5-8 with two singles, one double, one triple, one home run, four RBI and three runs.
Kelly McIntyre improved her pitching record to 10-3 on the season, while also going 3-3 at the plate with three singles against Charleston Southern. Lindsay Enders also improved her pitching record to 10-9 as she defeated Northern Illinois.
Charleston Southern jumped off to an early lead when Jacqui Mines reached on a single to the shortstop. Tiffany Reid then laid down a bunt moving Mines over to second. Katie McKay then grounded out to the pitcher, advancing Mines to third. Joanna Mazurkiewicz reached on an error, scoring Mines from third.
UCF put a two spot on the board in their half of the third inning after McIntyre led off with a single to right field. Kacie Feaster followed McIntyre's single with a double to left field advancing McIntyre to third. Stephanie Best singled scoring both McIntyre and Feaster. The Knights were unable to score Best.
The Knights went back to work in the bottom of the fourth when Crystle Krafft knocked a solo homer over the leftfield fence to give the Black and Gold a 3-0 lead. UCF was not done with their scoring attack. McIntyre singled to center field followed by Feaster, who singled to third base advancing McIntyre to second. Bryttani Lindheim then doubled to left center scoring McIntyre and Feaster. The fourth inning ended with UCF up, 5-0.
The Black and Gold continued with the offensive attack in the bottom of the fifth when Amber Lamb led off with a single to left field followed by a two-run home run by Krafft over the left field fence. The inning ended with UCF up, 7-1.
Lamb started the hit attack in the sixth with a single to right field. Shinhoster followed the single up with a two-run home run over the centerfield fence to end the game. The final score was UCF 9, Charleston Southern 1.
McIntyre pitched five innings for the Knights to pick up her 10th win of the season, while Whitney James (5-5) pitched for the Buccaneers.
At the end of UCF's first game, McIntyre was 3-for-3 at the plate with three singles, while Feaster and Alvarez were both 3-for-4. Krafft was 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI for the Knights.
UCF took on Northern Illinois in the final game of day one of the UCF Invitational. Best put the Knights on the board first with a solo shot over the left field in the bottom of the first.
The Black and Gold put a two spot on the board in the bottom of the third when Lindheim singled to center field and then advanced to second on a bobble by the centerfielder. She moved over to third on a bunt single by Alvarez. Alvarez advanced to second when Lindheim attempted to get in a rundown on the play, but both runners were safe on the play. The Huskies then intentionally walked Best to load the bases. Lindheim was then thrown out at the plate on a fielder's choice. Lamb singled to right center scoring Alvarez and Best. At the end of three, UCF was up, 3-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, Shinhoster ripped a lead-off triple into right field for the Knights. Enders then scored Shinhoster from third on a fielder's choice play at the plate. The inning ended with UCF up, 4-0.
UCF continued to score runs in their half of the fifth inning when Lamb doubled to right field. Shinhoster followed Lamb's double with a single to left field, advancing Lamb to third. Lamb then scored on a fielder's choice. Shinhoster scored on a wild pitch giving the Knights a 6-0 lead.
The Golden Knights ended the game in the bottom of the sixth when Nicole Balogh, Ashley Van Ryn and Ashley Baker were all issued walks to start off the inning. Jennifer Tomasetti then singled to second scoring Balogh from third and advanced everyone 60 feet closer. Shinhoster then doubled to left field scoring Van Ryn and Balogh to end the game. UCF won by a score of 8-0.
For the second game, Best was 2-2 with a single, home run and a walk, while Shinhoster was 3-4 with a single, double and triple. Alvarez and Lamb were each 3-2 for the game. Enders picked up the win for the second game improving her record to 10-9 on the season.
The Knights take on Kent State tomorrow at 1 p.m. and No. 20 Georgia Tech at 3 p.m. Admission to all UCF softball games is free.