April 24, 2005
ORLANDO,Fla. - Stephanie Best led UCF at the plate as the Golden Knights split with Atlantic Sun leader Troy Sunday afternoon. The Trojans took game one, 3-1, only for the Knights to come from behind and take game two, 11-8. The Black and Gold improved to 40-25-1 on the season and 12-6 in the Atlantic Sun, while the Trojans went to 41-18 on the season and 17-3 in the league play.
Best was 2-for-3 at the plate hitting her 23rd home run of the season, a single, two RBI, two runs and four walks. Lindsay Enders took the loss in game one, while Jennifer Tomasetti picked up the win in game two.
UCF jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on three walks and one hit batter.
Troy tied the score up in the top of the fourth when Tamra Howren ripped a solo homer over the fence in the right center.
The Trojans added another run in the fifth when Jenny Boyd singled down the left field line. She then stole second and third, scoring on an errand throw that went into the outfield.
At the end of the first game, Troy was up, 3-1. Cici Alvarez had UCF's only hit in the game, which came in the first inning. Enders (20-12) was tagged with the loss in the circle for the Knights, going seven innings and giving up three runs on six hits, two walks and five strikeouts.
Howren led the Trojans at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a single, a run and two RBI. Jocelyn McCallum (17-7) earned the win for Troy, going the distance and giving up one run on one hit, six walks and 12 strikeouts.
In game two, UCF jumped out the early lead again, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on no hits, two walks and two errors.
The Trojans took the lead in the top of the second inning, putting a four spot on the board.
Troy added another run in their half of the third, giving the Trojans a 5-1 lead over the Golden Knights.
UCF trimmed Troy's four-run lead by one in the bottom of third when Best hit her NCAA leading 23rd home run of the season, making it 5-2 in favor of the Trojans.
Sally Jones added two more runs for Troy in the top of the fifth when she hit a two-run homer over the left field fence.
The Golden Knights put a one spot on the board when Best singled to center field, scoring Alvarez from second.
Troy answered UCF's one run in the with one of their own in top of the sixth when Caurie Miller hit a home run over the left field fence, giving the Trojans an 8-3 lead.
UCF scored eight runs, seven earned, in the bottom of the sixth on six hits, two walks and one error. Nicole Balogh led the inning off with a walk only to get back up later in the inning and rip a two-run double into left center. Between Balogh's walk and double, the Knights were able to piece together five other hits to complete the come-from-behind 11-8 victory over Troy.
In game two, Best was 2-for-2 with one single, one home run, two walks, two runs and two RBI, while Cat Snapp was 3-for-4 with three singles, one RBI and one run. Tomasetti (4-2) went the distance against the Trojans, giving up eight runs on 12 hits, two walks and four strikeouts.
For Troy, Miller, Brooke Powell and Paige Foster were 2-for-3 at the plate. Kacie Flinn (17-8) was tagged with the loss, pitching 5.1 innings and giving up nine runs, seven earned, on nine hits, five walks and three strikeouts.
The Golden Knights return to the softball diamond on Thursday, May 5 when the team travels to DeLand, Fla. to take on A-Sun rival Stetson with the first pitch slated for 6 p.m.