May 6, 2006
ORLANDO - Allison Kime broke the UCF single season record for strikeouts as the Golden Knights dropped two to East Carolina in Conference USA action Saturday afternoon at the UCF Softball Stadium. The Pirates won the first game, 2-1 in 11 innings, and then followed that up with an 8-6 victory in the second game.
UCF fell to 19-36 on the season and 4-19 in C-USA, while East Carolina improved to 38-22 and 12-11.
Game One:
Michelle Newton scored UCF's first run in the third inning when she led off with a walk. Three batters later, she scored on an Amber Lamb single to the pitcher.
The Pirates evened the score at one apiece in the fifth when Beth Nolan singled home Jessica Johnson.
In the top of the ninth inning, East Carolina loaded the bases with one out. Kime managed to get the next to batters to ground out to end the Pirates' threat.
East Carolina took a 2-1 lead in the top of the 11th after Paige Baggett hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Erin St. Ledger from third.
Keli Harrell earned the win for the Pirates, pitching four innings and giving up no runs on one hit with two strikeouts. Kime was tagged with the loss, giving up two runs on four hits with eight strikeouts in 11 innings of work.
Game Two:
UCF struck first in the second game, scoring one run in the second inning. Lindsay Dean led off the inning with a double to right center. Magon Paul reached on an error, scoring Dean from second.
East Carolina responded to UCF's one run with five of their own on five hits in the third inning. Ashley Quick led off the inning with a single to right field, advancing to third two batters later. Quick scored when Johnson singled to short stop. Baggett then doubled to center field, scoring Krista Jessup and Johnson. Beth Nolan hit the second double of the inning, scoring Baggett from second. Nolan scored the fifth run of the inning on a Jessica Potter single to center field.
The Golden Knights got one run back in the home half of the third to make the score 5-2. Breanne Javier and Lamb led off the inning with back-to-back singles and then advanced 60 feet closer on an Ashley Baker sacrifice bunt. Kacie Feaster hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Javier from third.
The Pirates added three more runs in the fifth inning on four hits.
UCF scored two runs in the sixth on two hits and one East Carolina error. Dean scored the Golden Knights' first run after walking to lead off the inning. The very next play, Newton scored the second run of the inning on an ECU error. .
The Golden Knights fought until the end, scoring two more runs in the seventh inning. Feaster scored the first run after Ashley Van Ryn hit into a fielder's choice. Dean scored again on a Shelly Frick single to right field.
At the end of the second game, East Carolina was up, 8-6.
Harrell earned her second win of the afternoon, pitching four innings and giving up two runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Paul was pegged with the loss, going 2.2 innings and giving up five runs on six hits with one strikeout.
The Golden Knights and the Pirates return to the UCF Softball Stadium Sunday afternoon for the final game of the series. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. Tickets are available at the gate, $5 for adults and $3 for senior citizens and children 5-17.