March 19, 2006
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. - Lindsay Dean was 2-for-3 at the plate for Golden Knights as the UCF softball team was defeated by Marshall Sunday afternoon at Dot Hicks Softball Field. The Thundering Herd improved to 16-12 on the season and 4-2 Conference USA, while the Golden Knights fell to 13-20 and 0-6.
The Golden Knights jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Cici Alvarez reached base on an error to lead off the inning. Dean and Alvarez executed a perfect hit and run when Dean put the ball in play over the short stop's head. Amber Lamb reached first on a fielder's choice when the Marshall third baseman tried to get Alvarez out at third on a bunt. Alvarez then scored on a Kacie Feaster single to right field.
Breanne Javier hit her second career homer, a three-run shot, over the fence in center field to give UCF a 4-0 lead in the third inning.
Lamb doubled down the left field line in the fourth inning, scoring Cat Snapp from second and Jennifer Tomasetti from first. Abigail Harter came in to pitch for Marshall after Lamb's double and Feaster welcomed her to the game when she hit her third homer of the season, a two-run shot, over center field to give UCF the 8-0 lead.
Thundering Herd scored one run in their half of the fourth when Jessica Williams led off with a triple down the right field line. Jessica scored on a Leigh Wintter sacrifice fly to center field.
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Tourville hit a two-run shot, scoring Rodriguez from second. Jessica followed Tourville's homer with a double to center field and later scored on a single by Wintter to make the score 8-4 at the end of five.
The Thundering Herd exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the sixth for the 12-8 win. Marshall hit seven singles and one double for a total of eight hits in the inning.
Harter was credited with the win in relief, pitching three innings and giving up one run on one hit with two strikeouts. shley Baker was tagged with the loss, going less than an inning and giving up five runs on four hits.
The Golden Knights return to the UCF Softball Stadium next weekend for a three-game series against Houston with the first pitch at 1 p.m. both days. Tickets are available at the gate, $5 for adults and $3 for senior citizens and children age 5-17. All games will be broadcast live at www.ucfathletics.com.