March 14, 2006
ORLANDO - Cici Alvarez was 2-for-2 at the plate as the UCF softball team was defeated 7-1 by Conference USA foe Tulsa to open the new UCF Softball Stadium. The Golden Hurricane improved to 14-9 on the season and 1-0 in C-USA, while the Golden Knights fell to 13-15 and 0-1.
The game marked the inaugural C-USA contest for both teams.
Maren Genow (8-3) earned the win for Tulsa, pitching the complete game and giving up one run on five hits. Allison Kime (9-6) was tagged with the loss, pitching six innings and giving up seven runs on 11 hits with one error.
Tulsa jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as lead-off hitter Brooke Smart ripped a double to center field and then scored three batters later on a Sara Dyer single to right field.
The Golden Knights answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the first when Alvarez led off with a walk. She later scored on a Kacie Feaster single up the middle.
The Golden Hurricane scored three runs in the third inning to pull away. Smart led off the inning with her second hit in as many at-bats to give Tulsa a base runner. She advanced to third due to an error the following batter. The Golden Knights intentionally walked Katie Torres to load the bases. Dyer singled through the left side, scoring Smart and Julie Shafer. Torres scored the third run of the inning on a Kelli McGlasson ground out to UCF's shortstop.
Smart, Shafer and Torres scored again in the sixth on three walks and two singles for Tulsa.
UCF's previous 2006 home games were played at Merrill Park in Altamonte Springs, Fla. Prior to this season, the Golden Knights played on a field located behind the UCF Arena and next to Jay Bergman Field.
The Golden Knights return to the UCF Softball Stadium Wednesday afternoon when the team hosts Tulsa for a double-header. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. Tickets are available at the gate, $5 for adults and $3 for senior citizens and children 5-17.