March 11, 2007
Greenville, N.C. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF softball team couldn't manufacture a timely hit Sunday as it dropped the last contest of its three-game series to Conference USA foe East Carolina (19-6, 3-0 C-USA) Sunday morning, 3-1. The Golden Knights had two runners in scoring position in the fifth and seventh innings but lacked that one hit they needed. The Black and Gold dropped to 16-12 on the season and 0-3 in Conference USA with the loss.
Lexi Gresham (Fresno, Calif.) took the loss for the Golden Knights, tossing three innings and striking out two. Allison Kime (Brandon, Fla./Hillsborough CC) had another solid outing for UCF allowing only one hit in three innings of work, fanning three.
East Carolina struck first in the bottom of the third inning. Charina Sumner reached on a fielder's choice and scored when Jessica Johnson hit a two-run shot over the left field wall off Gresham to put ECU on top, 2-0. The Golden Knights brought in Kime in relief to start the fourth inning against Beth Nolan. The right fielder sent Kime's pitch over the fence, putting the Pirates up, 3-0.
The Golden Knights started tallying base-runners after Kime busted up Keli Harrell's perfect game in the fifth inning, smacking a single to shallow right center field, but the junior was left stranded at second base following two consecutive ground outs.
The scoreboard lit up in the sixth inning in favor of UCF after Magon Paul (Virginia Beach, Va.) pinch hit and reached first on a wild pitch. Ashley Van Ryn (Atlanta, Ga.) came back into the game to run the bases and Kacie Feaster (Jacksonville, Fla./Trinity Christian) moved Van Ryn to second with a sacrifice bunt. Cici Alvarez (Pembroke Pines, Fla./McArthur) got the second hit of the game for the Golden Knights bringing the run around on a bloop single over the shortstop's head putting UCF back in the game, 3-1.
The Black and Gold looked like it would have another run come around in the second after Kime reached base for the second time on a walk. The ECU shortstop, Kaui Tom, couldn't handle a laser off the bat of Hillary Barrow, allowing Kime to advance to second and Barrow to reach first. Cat Snapp laid down a picture perfect sacrifice bunt to put the tying run in scoring position for UCF with two outs. But Harrell won the battle as she got Van Ryn to pop up to second base wrapping up the game, 3-1.
The Golden Knights are back in action on March 15 as they entertain Bethune-Cookman at the UCF Softball Complex for a non-conference doubleheader. The first game is slated for 5 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.