March 1, 2007
Final Stats
Game Two Final Stats
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - UCF's consistency at the plate helped guide the Golden Knights to a doubleheader sweep over Eastern Michigan Thursday at the UCF Softball Complex. The Black and Gold (13-8) edged the Eagles (1-10) 4-2 and 7-4, posting eight hits in game one and 12 in the second contest.
Breanne Javier and Amber Lamb completed the first game with two hits apiece, while Ashleigh Cole (5-3) came out of the pen to get the win. Cole did not allow a hit over 3.2 innings of work. In the second victory, Lamb pounded out three more hits and drove in three runs to lead the offense. Allison Kime (6-5) struck out nine in 6.1 innings of relief to seal the sweep.
Game One Recap
After UCF starter Lexi Gresham got out of trouble in the first inning of game one thanks to a double-play ball with two runners on, the Knights went to work in the bottom half vs. EMU's Aimee Woodrum. Kacie Feaster kicked it off with a leadoff double, and Cici Alvarez pushed her to third on a sacrifice bunt. Lamb followed with a double of her own to plate Feaster, and one out later, Javier sent a two-out single up the middle to bring in Lamb from second.
Down 2-0, Eastern Michigan cut the lead in half as Heather Giroux notched a two-out RBI single in the third. UCF returned the favor in the bottom of the third with a bloop single from Javier just behind second base, scoring Lamb who earlier reached on a single.
It did not take long for the Eagles to strike back. With one down in the fourth, Lindsay Schmid sent a 3-1 pitch over the fence in left to make it 3-2. Moments later, EMU earned a walk and hit by pitch, which forced Cole to take over in the circle. Although she walked Jessica Grant to load the bases, Cole induced Kayla Bluthardt to ground into a 1-2-3 double play, keeping UCF up by a run.
The Black and Gold responded again the next time it came to the plate. After Ashley Van Ryn connected for her second-career triple with one out, Morgan Bullard drove her in on a grounder to short. When the seventh and final inning rolled around, Cole pitched herself into a jam with EMU putting runners at second and third with just one out. She settled down, though, and retired the next two batters to preserve the 4-2 win.
Game Two Recap
Cole returned to the rubber for the night-cap, and Eastern Michigan jumped on her right away. Giroux opened the first with a one-out triple and Lauren Clark notched a single to make it 1-0. A base hit from Schmid caused UCF to reach into the bullpen, where Allison Kime took over. The junior walked Jenny Scherer to load the bases, and Heather Han increased the lead to 2-0 on a grounder to second. Kime recorded the final out of the first on a grounder to third.
Feaster provided UCF with another leadoff runner in the bottom half, earning a walk off EMU's Michelle Lloyd. Cruising to second on a sacrifice bunt from Alvarez, Feaster quickly scored on a single to right center off the bat of Lamb. The Knights continued to put pressure on Lloyd, and managed to take a 3-2 advantage after two. A base hit to left by Javier started the frame, and she touched second on a sac bunt by Hillary Barrow. A wild pitch and walk to Van Ryn gave UCF runners at the corners, and Lloyd's second wild pitch tied it up. Bullard then gave the Knights the lead on an infield single.
Each team traded two, two-out runs in the third, with both of UCF's tallies coming after an Eagle fielding error. Holding a 5-4 lead, Lamb came through in the clutch in both the fourth and sixth innings with two, two-out RBI singles, stretching it to 7-4. Kime kept Eastern Michigan off the board the rest of the way to ensure the doubleheader sweep, including striking out the side in the sixth inning.
UCF stays in town for the Altamonte Springs Tournament this weekend at Merrill Park. The Knights' first game will be vs. Jacksonville State Friday at 3 p.m. For the latest news and information on the Golden Knights, tickets or apparel log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF athletics.