March 25, 2006
ORLANDO - Amber Lamb was 4-for-10 at the plate for the UCF softball team as the Golden Knights dropped a pair of games to Houston in Conference USA action Saturday afternoon at the UCF Softball Stadium. The Cougars won game one 5-1 and then followed that up with a 2-1 victory in 11 innings for the twinbill.
Houston improved to 23-12 on the season and 5-3 in C-USA, while UCF fell to 13-22 and 0-8.
Lamb had three singles, one double and one RBI on the afternoon. Kacie Feaster hit her fourth home run of the season in the second game and ended the day with one run and one RBI.
Game One:
Houston put a four-spot on the board in the top of the second on three hit batters, three hits and one walk. Angel Shamblin led off the inning with a single thru the right side. The Cougars loaded the bases with one out after two batters were both hit by a pitch. Jessica Valis reached on a fielder's choice as Shamblin was thrown out at home. Katie Bush picked up an RBI as she was the third person to be hit by a pitch in the inning. Elaina Nordstrom stepped to the plate and hit a bases clearing double to center field. The inning ended when Nordstrom was thrown out at the plate on a Laurie Wagner single up the middle.
The Golden Knights scored one run in the fifth when Ashley Baker and Lamb hit back-to-back doubles.
The Cougars added a fifth run in the sixth on two singles and a sacrifice bunt to make the final score 5-1.
Shamblin improved to 9-5 on the season in the circle, pitching the complete game and giving up one run on seven hits with 10 strikeouts. Magon Paul was tagged with loss, pitching two innings and giving up four runs on three hits and no strikeouts.
Game Two:
Houston struck early in the second game, scoring one run in the first inning. Valis led off the inning with a single to the short stop and then stole second. She picked up her second stolen base of the inning by stealing third and scored on that play on an error by the UCF center fielder.
Feaster evened the score at one apiece in the fourth when she hit her fourth home run of the season over the fence in left field.
The Cougars scored their second run of the game in the top of the fifth on a Shamblin RBI single up the middle.
The Golden Knights responded in their half of the fifth when the team loaded the bases with no outs on two hits and one walk. Lindsay Dean drew the second walk of the inning, plating Baker from third. Carla Kennimer came in to pitch for Houston and struck out the next three batters to end UCF's threat.
At the end of seven innings, UCF and Houston were knotted up at two apiece.
In the top of the 11th, the Cougars took the 3-2 lead when Nordstrom singled to center field scoring Jamie Adams from second.
Shamblin, the fourth pitcher for Houston, earned the win for the Cougars, pitching 3.2 innings and giving up no runs on two hits with two strikeouts. Allison Kime was pegged with the loss, pitching all 11 innings and giving up three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts.
The Golden Knights return to the UCF Softball Stadium Sunday afternoon for the final game of the series against Houston. 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.