March 21, 2007
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Three days after taking two of three games from Conference USA foe Southern Miss, the UCF softball team posted 3-1 and 5-1 victories over Dartmouth Wednesday. The twin-bill sweep stretched UCF's undefeated streak against non-conference opponents to six games, and it improved its overall record to 22-13 for the season.
At the plate, Amber Lamb was unstoppable as she combined to go 4-for-5 with three RBI, four runs scored, two doubles and a homer. Hillary Barrow also shined by notching four RBI against the Big Green (4-9).
Game One Recap
As Allison Kime was breezing through the Dartmouth order in the first outing, UCF kept pressuring Big Green starter Stephanie Trudeau and it finally paid off in the fourth. Following a leadoff walk to Lamb, Kime placed a bunt just out of the reach of third baseman Alyssa Parker for a single. Although Trudeau picked up a strikeout, two-straight errors provided the Golden Knights with a 2-0 advantage.
Dartmouth struck back in the top of the sixth, plating an unearned run when Parker ripped a two-out, 1-2 pitch up the middle to score Kirsten Costello from second. But the Black and Gold got the run right back as Lamb started the bottom of the sixth with a solo homer just inside the left-field foul pole. It was the shortstop's second of the season and 10th of her career, which moved her into a tie for sixth all-time at UCF.
Kime (11-6) locked up the victory by pitching a perfect seventh inning. She finished by giving up just three hits, no earned runs and no walks, all while striking out eight. At the plate, Kime led the way with two hits.
Game Two Recap
The Golden Knights made the Big Green pay for a first-inning error in game two as Cici Alvarez reached second with just one down. Lamb came through after fouling off a few pitches by doubling down the line in left, giving UCF a 1-0 lead. A ground out off the bat of Kime and a hit by pitch taken by Breanne Javier put runners at the corners, where Barrow notched a RBI single into center to conclude the scoring in the first.
Two runs were plenty for starter Lexi Gresham. The redshirt freshman gave up a one-out hit in the first before recording 11-straight outs entering the fifth frame. The UCF offense gave her room to breathe in the fifth. Kacie Feaster quickly got it going by singling to center and stealing second base. A sacrifice bunt dropped down by Cici Alvarez pushed Feaster to second and she crossed home on a double to left center by Lamb. Dartmouth starting pitcher Angela Megaw got the second out on a grounder to third, but Javier and Barrow recorded back-to-back RBI doubles with two down to stretch the lead to 5-0.
Dartmouth attempted to rally in the sixth, getting the first two runners aboard on a walk and an infield single. Gresham recovered by getting a fielder's choice, a ground out and a pop up on the infield to keep the Big Green scoreless. The Big Green did manage to ruin the shutout in the seventh, but its rally fell short as Gresham and the Knights held on for the 5-1 victory. UCF's starter concluded her victory with five strikeouts to move to 3-1 on the year.
UCF returns to Conference USA play when it travels to Oklahoma to take on Tulsa. Saturday's doubleheader gets underway at 2 p.m. ET, while Sunday's finale is set for 1 p.m. ET. 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.