April 11, 2007
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The circle was where the action was Wednesday night at the UCF Softball Complex, as both bullpens were never tapped into in a UCF doubleheader vs. Florida Atlantic. Allison Kime led the Knights to a 1-0 victory in game one, but the Black and Gold then dropped a 1-0 decision in the night-cap to bring its overall record to 30-17.
In its last 19 games, UCF stretched its record to 14-5, and has just one more non-conference game left on the schedule (at Florida, April 18).
Kime improved to 18-6 with the win in the first outing. The junior recorded her 22nd complete game of the season by limiting the Owls (25-20) to two hits, both by Jenna Lopez, and one walk while striking out six. It was Kime's 16th shutout of her career, which earned her sole possession of second place on the UCF all-time list (Dottie Cupp, 20). With the stick, Kacie Feaster finished with two hits and a stolen base to the lead the Knight offense.
In game two, freshman Ashleigh Cole (7-9) set a career-high with nine strikeouts, eclipsing her previous mark of five. She surrendered six hits and walked just two in the hard-luck loss.
Game One Recap
With the first scoring opportunity of game one, UCF took advantage. After FAU starter Kathryn Stauffer got the first out of the second inning, Breanne Javier and Hillary Barrow picked up back-to-back singles and one out later, Megan Murphy drove a RBI base hit up the middle to provide the Knights with a 1-0 lead.
The Owls had the same situation in the top of the third, putting runners at first and second with one out. Kime notched her first strikeout of the game by sitting down Becky Brandies, but gave up a single to left to Jenna Lopez. Lauren Crandall rounded third and started for home, hesitated, then continued to try and score. Left fielder Morgan Bullard relayed the throw to Amber Lamb, who fired a bullet to Lindsay Dean for the easy tag to end the frame.
Kime would not allow another runner the rest of the game, as she retired the side in order in the final four innings to lock up the 1-0 win.
Game Two Recap
UCF went right back to work in the night-cap, and this time Florida Atlantic put the pressure on the Knights. The Owls got a runner in scoring position in each of the first three innings, but Cole held them at bay. The third inning proved especially difficult when she saw runners reach second and third with one down. Cole escaped by getting a fielder's choice where Ambar Jones was tagged out at home and a grounder to short.
The Black and Gold also got out of a dilemma in the fifth by forcing FAU to leave runners at the corners with one down. Cole was tested again in the sixth when an error opened the inning and with one out on the board, the Owls loaded them up on a hit by pitch and a single. A 6-2 fielder's choice helped the Knights get yet another out at home and Jones could not drive in the game's first run when she concluded the stanza on a grounder to second.
Meanwhile, Amber Barton was cruising for FAU, allowing just two hits through six innings. She witnessed her offense continue to threaten when the Owl bats stepped in in the seventh. A single and stolen base enabled Lopez to reach second with nobody out, and eventually touched third with two down. Brandies finally came through for FAU, sending a RBI single off the handle of the bat to center field for the Owls' only run of the entire night.
That run would be all Florida Atlantic needed as Barton secured the shutout in the home half of the seventh, even though it did come with some drama. Barrow led off by drilling a double off the wall in left center and traveled to third on a sacrifice bunt laid down by Shelly Frick. Two ground outs later and FAU was able to leave with the doubleheader split.
Conference USA play resumes this weekend when UAB comes to town. Saturday marks "Cram the Complex," as the doubleheader begins at 1 p.m., while the finale takes place Sunday at 11 a.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.