Florida Game Notes
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April 17, 2007
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - After securing the third spot in the Conference USA standings, the Golden Knights are back on the road Wednesday for a non-conference match-up with No. 22 Florida at the Florida Softball Stadium in Gainesville. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Previewing Florida
No. 22 Florida holds a 34-18 record on the 2007 season with wins coming over teams such as Arizona, North Florida, Tennessee, Alabama and Florida State. The Gators' 2-0 win over Auburn on Sunday afternoon put them at .500 in the SEC with a 10-10 record. Florida relies on the arm of Stacey Nelson (21-11), who leads her team in ERA (1.00), complete games (26), shutouts (9), saves (3), innings pitched (211.0) and strikeouts (189). Offensively, the Gators are led by sophomore Kim Waleszonia, who holds a .360 average with 11 doubles, 35 runs scored, 62 hits and 17 stolen bases.
Remember When...
Cici Alvarez was a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate in UCF's last showdown with Florida on April 19, 2006. Allison Kime gave up only a single earned run in the contest and struck out four batters despite taking the 3-0 loss to the Gators. Amber Lamb and Breanne Javier also recorded hits for the Golden Knights. Lindsey Cameron paced the offense for Florida with two hits in the non-conference event.
UCF vs. The State of Florida
The Golden Knights are 43-49 all-time against teams in their home state of Florida. UCF is 8-5 in Florida match-ups this season, getting wins over Florida State, North Florida, Bethune-Cookman, Stetson, Jacksonville and Florida Atlantic.
We're Moving on Up
UCF clinched the number three spot in the Conference USA standings with a series win over UAB last weekend. The Golden Knights' two league wins on the weekend also put them over .500 in conference play for the first time since joining C-USA a year ago.
Don't Turn Around
Through 50 games this season, the Black and Gold have already surpassed numerous marks that were set throughout the 2006 season. UCF has scored 165 runs this season, up 30 from last year's 135 runs and has 141 RBI compared to 118 all last season. The Knights are also up 15 doubles, 39 hits, 59 total bases and six sacrifice flies from their 2006 totals.
Hitter of the Week Nominee
Breanne Javier had a .529 average (9-for-17) on the week and a .500 average (4-for-8) in UCF's C-USA series with UAB. The sophomore was 2-for-2 with a double and the Golden Knights' only two RBI in game one of the series. Javier then followed up the next game with two more hits, a RBI and one run scored in UCF's 5-2 win. Earlier in the week the first baseman was a perfect 3-for-3 with a double off the fence and a RBI in a non-conference win over Jacksonville. Javier had a hit in five of UCF's six games last week, including three multi-hit games.
Hit Me Baby One More Time
The Golden Knights have yet to be held hitless this season through 50 contests. UCF has been held to one hit only once this season at the hands of East Carolina, but had a UCF record 21 hits against Bethune-Cookman.
Nationally Ranked
Cici Alvarez and Allison Kime have positioned themselves among the elite softball players in the country as they both ranked in the top five in the NCAA National Rankings.
Alvarez is fourth in the nation in sacrifice hits with 0.45 per game (Jessica Hejna, UCSB, 0.53). Alvarez recorded her season high in sacrifce hits agaisnt George Mason when she laid down three in the victory.
A dominating second half of the season has helped propell Kime to fifth in the nation with a 0.76 earned run average (Monica Abbott, Tenn., 0.41). The junior hurler has allowed only three earned runs in her last 111.1 innings of work, which inclueds a twelve-inning shutout over Florida State on March 28.
Dominating the Competition
Allison Kime moved her ERA to 0.30 in Conference USA play and 0.67 on the season as she did not allow an earned run in four appearances last week. The right-hander has allowed only three earned runs in league play, which came against Marshall on March 31.
Get `Er Done
Megan Murphy had the Golden Knights' only RBI in UCF's non-conference doubleheader split with FAU on April 11. With Breanne Javier perched at second base, Murphy hit a single to bring Javier all the way home in the second inning.
Three Hits Ms.
Amber Lamb's 3-for-3 stint at the plate on Saturday was the sixth three-hit performance for the senior this season. In her four years as a Golden Knight, Lamb has accumulated a total of 12 three-hit performances.
Done in a "Snapp"
Junior Cat Snapp tied the UCF single-game record for sacrifice flies on April 10 after she launched two RBIs into the outfield against Jacksonville. The feat was last accomplished by Jennifer Whitley in 2003.
The Three Amigos
Not only is Allison Kime the fifth ranked pitcher for ERA in the country, but the fire-baller, along with Ashleigh Cole and Lexi Gresham, have combined to produce one of the most feared pitching staffs as well. The trio pitched its way to the fifth spot in the NCAA national rankings with a 1.27 team ERA (Tennessee, 0.53).
Triple Shot
Kacie Feaster hit her third triple of the season and fifth of her career on Saturday in UCF's 5-2 win over UAB to take sole possession of the third spot on the UCF career charts.
1, 2, 3 Strikes You're Out
Ashleigh Cole recorded a career-high nine strikeouts despite taking the defeat in UCF's 1-0 loss to FAU on April 11, up from her previous high of five whiffs.
Feaster Loves The Sunshine State
Kacie Feaster tops UCF in seven offensive categories when batting against other Florida schools this season. She leads the team in batting average (.391), hits (18), RBI (9), total bases (26), slugging percentage (.565), sacrifice flies (1) and stolen bases (15).
This Day in UCF Softball History
UCF holds a 4-0 record on this day in Golden Knight softball history. In 2003, the Black and Gold swept a doubleheader with Troy, 4-0 and 7-3, and the very next year, UCF swept yet another doubleheader, this time against Mercer, 2-0 and 10-4.
First in a Career
With a stellar performance from the circle on Saturday, Ashleigh Cole recorded the first Conference USA win of her career. The freshman limited UAB to three hits and allowed only one earned run in her five-inning outing.
Top of the Charts
Allison Kime tops the C-USA competition in ERA (0.67) and opposing batting average (.145) for the fourth straight week in both overall games and league games only. Kime's league ERA is an amazing 0.30 and she holds a .133 opposing batting average in Conference USA match-ups.
Four More
UCF has tallied more runs than Florida in the third inning and the fifth inning in six contests between the two teams. The Golden Knights have outscored the Gators, 2-0 in the third and 3-1 in the fifth.
Snake Eyes
The Black and Gold is 25-5 when it scores first in a contest and 16-5 when it scores in the first inning this season.
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