April 9, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Cici Alvarez was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate as the UCF softball team fell to UAB, 7-5, in Conference USA action Sunday afternoon at George Ward Park. The Blazers improved to 24-16 on the season and 10-5 in C-USA, while the Golden Knights fell to 13-29 and 0-15.
Jennifer Nelson earned the win, pitching four innings and giving up four runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts. Allison Kime fell to 9-13 in the circle, pitching six innings and giving up seven runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts.
The Golden Knights jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after the first inning. Amber Lamb led off the inning with a walk and then advanced to second on an Alvarez bunt single to the pitcher. Breanne Javier singled up the middle, scoring Lamb from second and advancing Alvarez to third. Javier and Alvarez executed a double steal perfectly for the second UCF run of the inning.
The Blazers took a 5-2 lead in the third after batting through the line-up. Nicole Whitlock led off with a walk and then advanced on an Allison Davis single to the pitcher. Chelsea McCall was issued the second walk of the inning, giving UAB bases loaded with two outs. Holly Krzan ripped a double to right center, scoring Whitlock, Davis and McCall. Andrea Rogers then singled to third with Krzan moving up 60 feet closer. Kayla Harris reached on a fielding error, while Krzan scored and Rogers advanced to third. Leigh Walker hit an infield single, scoring Rogers for the fifth Blazer run.
UAB added one run in the fourth when Krzan doubled to left field, scoring Davis from second.
In the top of the fifth, UCF scored two runs to pull within two of UAB. Kacie Feaster led off the inning with a single to left field. Lamb followed that up with a double down the left field line, scoring Feaster from first. Alvarez then hit a single to the pitcher, advancing Lamb to third. The Blazer catcher overthrew second as Alvarez was attempting to steal, allowing Lamb to score from third.
Lindsay Stanley scored UAB's seventh run of the game off a wild pitch to make the score 7-4.
The Golden Knights added one run in the seventh as Alvarez led off the inning with a walk. She advanced to second on a ground out and to third on a wild pitch. Ashley Baker hit a single to left field, scoring Alvarez for the final run of the game.
The Golden Knights take on USF Wednesday evening in Tampa at 5:30 p.m. UCF returns home to host Memphis in a three-game series Friday and Saturday. Tickets are available at the gate, $5 for adults and $3 for senior citizens and children 5-17.