March 17, 2007
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF softball team (19-13, 1-4 CUSA) split its first two games of a three-game series with Southern Miss (10-19, 1-4 CUSA) at the UCF Softball Complex on Saturday afternoon. The Golden Knights used an eight-hit offensive attack and a 12 strikeout performance from Allison Kime (Brandon, Fla./Hillsborough CC) to take a win from the Golden Eagles in game one, 2-0. UCF left 11 runners stranded on base in its second outing losing the contest, 6-3, despite out-hitting Southern Miss by five.
Game One
UCF jumped on Southern Miss starter Samantha Davis early in the first inning when Cici Alvarez (Pembroke Pines, Fla./McArthur) singled through the right side and Amber Lamb (West Palm Beach, Fla./John I. Leonard) followed up with a single into left. With runners at first and second, Breanne Javier (Castaic, Ca) ripped a RBI single to plate Alvarez, putting the Golden Knights on top, 1-0.
The UCF defense got out of a jam in the second when Kime walked Kristin Pilgrim with nobody out and Lauren Castellvi tried to sacrifice her over to second base. Alvarez snatched the ball off Castellvi's bat and threw Pilgrim out at first for the Knights' 14th double play of the season. Kime struck out her second batter of the game to end the inning.
The Black and Gold tacked on another run in the second inning after Kacie Feaster (Jacksonville, Fla./Trinity Christian) hit a line shot over the left fielder's head to bring in Lindsay Dean (Jacksonville, Fla./Mandarin), who reached base on a walk. Feaster moved to second base after the Golden Eagles' shortstop bobbled a ball off the bat of Alvarez. With runners at first and third, UCF's RBI leader, Lamb, stepped up to the plate but Alvarez was caught trying to steal second, ending the inning, 2-0.
Kime pitch a complete-game shutout, allowing only three hits while fanning 12. Feaster and Javier led the offensive attack for the Knights as they both had two hits and a RBI.
Game Two
UCF started game two with its bats on fire as Feaster led off the game with a double to right field, but a little hesitation around second base caused her to get thrown out at third. Alvarez followed with a single over the shortstop's head and moved to third on walks to Javier and Kime to load the bases. Barrow kept ripping the ball just foul to the left side before Shea Naramore forced her to ground out to the shortstop to end the inning.
The Golden Eagles plated their first two runs in the bottom of the inning when Allison Bullard hit a two-out single to left field and Ashleigh Cole (Pace, Fla./Pace) hit two straight batters to load the bases. Brandi Alonzo brought two runners in on a hit up the middle to put Southern Miss up, 2-0.
Scoring on two outs seemed to be the trend in the first half of the game as UCF added one in the second inning when Morgan Bullard scored off a single, an error, a wild pitch and a controversial single from Alvarez to put the Knights within one, 2-1.
Again with two outs, Southern Miss tacked on its third run of the contest. Castellvi singled to start off the inning and Krystle Dawson entered the game to pinch run. Two batters grounded out to third base and UCF thought it would get out of the jam, but Lamb bobbled the ball at shortstop to allow Dawson to score. At the end of four the Golden Eagles led, 3-1.
Southern Miss added two more runs in the sixth off another Golden Knight error and scored one in the top of the seventh to go up, 6-1.
The Black and Gold mounted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh when Alvarez and Lamb had consecutive singles to lead off the inning, and Javier knocked Alvarez in on a double to right field. Hillary Barrow brought Lamb around on her second hit of the day to make the score, 6-3. The Knights' rally fell just short as the next two batters grounded out to complete the game.
Cole took the loss in the circle allowing only three earned runs on six hits. Alvarez led the Knights at the plate going 3-for-4 with a RBI and one run scored.
UCF is back in action Sunday at the UCF Softball Complex to finish the three-game Conference USA series against Southern Miss. First pitch is set for noon.
For the latest news and information on the Knights, tickets or apparel log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports.