April 14, 2007
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF softball team (31-18, 7-7 C-USA) used 10 hits and a stellar performance from Ashleigh Cole to take a huge second-game win, 5-2, over UAB (27-21, 8-8 C-USA) on Saturday at the UCF Softball Complex. Cole allowed only one earned run on three hits and struck out four in her eighth win of the season.
Amber Lamb led the Knights offensively in the game going 3-for-3 with a RBI and one run scored. Cole helped her own cause from the plate as she registered two RBI with a single in the third inning.
Without allowing an earned run in game one, Allison Kime (18-7) took the 4-2 loss despite allowing only five hits and striking out nine. The junior redeemed herself in the second game though, as she came into the game in the sixth inning to earn the save. In her two innings of work, Kime allowed only two hits and did not allow a single walk.
Breanne Javier paced the Black and Gold throughout the doubleheader as she cranked out four hits, with a double, three RBI and one run scored for an .800 average on the day.
Game One
UCF put the first two runs on the board in the first inning off a monstrous double by Javier to right-center field. Kacie Feaster reached earlier on a walk and moved to second base on sacrifice bunt by Cici Alvarez, which was misplayed by the UAB pitcher, allowing the senior to reach first base safely. With runners on first and second, Lamb advanced the runners over another base with a sacrifice bunt of her own. With two outs, Javier knocked both runs in to put UCF up 2-0 at the end of one inning.
Neither team could come up with a run after the first inning until UAB loaded the bases in the fifth with two walks and a UCF error. Andrea Rogers came up big for the Blazers as she knocked two runs in with a single to left field, tying the game at two runs apiece. With runners at first and second and two outs, UAB loaded the bases again, and came up with a clutch single through the left side to plate two more runs. Kime ended the Blazers' run with her third strikeout of the inning. Through the top of the fifth inning, UAB led 4-2 which would eventually become the final score of the game.
Game Two
The Blazers scored one run in the first inning for their first lead of game two, taking advantage of a UCF miscue and two intentional walks to go up, 1-0.
Feaster answered back as she demolished a triple off the left-field wall to open up the Golden Knights' half of the inning. Lamb was hit by a pitch to reach first, and Javier hit an RBI single to left-center field to score Feaster, tying the game, 1-1. Hillary Barrow loaded the bases with a single up the middle and only one out. Blazer pitcher, Kayla Harris managed to get out of the inning inducing UCF to pop out and strike out to end the inning.
Amber Lamb led off the bottom half of the third inning with a single up the middle and was immediately advanced to second with a single through the right side by Javier. With one out, the Blazers made a pitching change, as Amanda Antonovich came in to face Cole, who ripped a single up the middle to score both Lamb and Javier to go up, 3-1. Cole advanced to second base on the throw home before Morgan Bullard came in the game to pinch run. Bullard moved to third on a groundout, but Antonovich got Cat Snapp to swing at strike three for the third out. At the conclusion of three innings, the Golden Knights held a two-run lead.
UAB added a run in the top of the fifth inning after Holly Krzan led off with a double to left-center field and moved to second on an intentional walk to Rogers. Leigh Walker moved the runners on a sacrifice bunt and Antonovich loaded the bases as she took a walk to first base. Nicole Tumlin was grazed by a delivery from Cole, bringing in the Blazers' second run with one out. Alvarez got Rogers at home on a fielder's choice, and Barrow made a huge heads-up play to get Harris out at second base to hold onto the lead, 3-2.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Golden Knights used three hits, a sacrifice bunt and a hit batsman to grab two more runs and extend their lead to three runs. Snapp led things off with a screamer to third base and advanced to second base after Ashley Van Ryn got plunked in the face with the next pitch. Magon Paul came in to run for Van Ryn before Feaster laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners over a base. Alvarez was called upon to put down another sacrifice hit and answered the call tremendously. The senior dropped down a bunt and beat out the throw from the third baseman to score Snapp from third and moved Paul into her place. Alvarez moved to second base on the throw home. Lamb hit her third single of the game to plate Paul and securing the win over the Blazers.
The Knights are back in action on Sunday for the series finale with UAB at the UCF Softball Complex. First pitch of the game is set for 11 a.m.
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.
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