March 22, 2005
ORLANDO - Stephanie Best was 2-for-2 with two home runs as the UCF softball team split with Lipscomb, 4-2 and 0-1. The games brought the Golden Knights to 28-17-1 on the season and 1-1 in the Atlantic Sun, while the Lady Bisons stayed just above 500 with a 13-12 season mark and 1-1 in conference play.
Best had three walks, four RBI and two runs scored in addition to the two home runs. Jania Shinhoster was second for the Knights after going 2-for-5 on the afternoon with one double and one single. Lindsay Enders (12-10) picked up the win in game one, while Ashley Baker (3-3) took the loss in the second game. Enders gave up two runs on five hits with two strike-outs and four walks, while Baker gave up one run on five hits with four strike-outs and one walk.
UCF jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first when Bryttani Lindheim reached first after being hit by a pitch. Cici Alvarez beat out a bunt to first, moving Lindheim over to second. Best knocked a three-run home run over the left field fence, scoring Lindheim and Alvarez.
Lipscomb tried to chip away at the Knights' lead in the top of the third when Kate Richards led off with a walk. Leigh Little moved Richards over to second on a single to left center. Little and Richards moved 60 feet closer on a sac bunt by Julia Davidson. Richards scored from third when Heather Collins singled to the shortstop.
In the bottom of the fifth, Best extended UCF's lead with another homer over the left field fence to make it UCF 4, Lipscomb 1.
In the top of the seventh, the Lady Bisons fought back to score one more when Little reached first on a walk. She then scored on an RBI double to left center by Jessica Wilson.
UCF won the first game, 4-2. Best led the offensive attack after 2-for-2 with two home runs and two walks. Snapp and Alvarez were both 2-for-4 in the first game. Enders picked up her 12th win of the season for the Knights.
Lipscomb was led by Little who went 2-for-3 at the plate with two singles and one walk. Danielle Cantalano (5-4) took the loss for the Lady Bisons in the circle.
The Lady Bisons jumped out the lead in the top of the fourth when Wilson reached on an error. Wilson was then thrown out at second on a fielder's choice by Collins. Collins was thrown out at second on another fielder's choice by Candice McWherter. Jennifer Cannon reached on a single to the short stop, with McWherter advancing to third on the throw. Shay Sullivan then singled to right center, scoring McWherter from third. At the end of the top of the fourth, it was Lipscomb 1, UCF 0.
UCF threatened in the bottom of the fifth when Shinhoster ripped a double down the left field line. The Knights, however, were unable to bring Shinhoster around to score.
In the bottom of the sixth, UCF threatened again when Lindheim led off for the Knights with a single to center field. Nicole Balogh came in to run for Lindheim and was moved over to second on a groundout by Best. The Black and Gold, however, were not able to bring Balogh around to score.
At the end of game two, Lipscomb was up, 1-0. Shinhoster was 1-for-2 for the Knights with a double, while Lindheim was 1-for-3 with a single. Baker took the loss for the Black and Gold in the circle.
Richards, McWherter, Sullivan and Wilson were all 1-for-3 at the plate for Lipscomb. Sara Meek picked up the win for the Lady Bisons, improving her record to 4-4 on the season.
The Golden Knights return to the softball diamond on Tuesday, March 29 when they host A-Sun rival Florida Atlantic at the UCF Softball Complex in a doubleheader with the first pitch at 2 p.m. Admission to all softball games is free for everyone.