April 21, 2007
Houston, Texas (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF bats could not catch fire Saturday as the Golden Knights fell to Houston (34-14, 15-2 C-USA) in a Conference USA doubleheader, 6-0 and 7-0, at the Cougar Softball Stadium. The losses dropped the Black and Gold to 32-20 on the season and 8-9 in C-USA.
Saturday was the day of the big inning as Houston's two home runs, including a grand slam in the fifth inning, were the deciding factors in the first game, while the Cougars' five-run first inning in game two was too much for the Knights to overcome.
Cici Alvarez paced the UCF offense going a perfect 3-for-3 with two sacrifice hits and a walk on the day. Kacie Feaster also added three hits which included a double to left-center field in game two. The two seniors accounted for six of UCF's eight total hits in the doubleheader, with Ashley Van Ryn and Allison Kime knocking out the other two hits.
Kime (19-8) threw her 25th complete game of the season and the 51st of her career despite taking the loss in game one. The junior struck out four batters in the outing for a career total of 427 whiffs.
In game two, Lexi Gresham (4-3) was tagged with the loss after throwing 4.2 innings, striking out three.
Game One
The Cougars took control of the game in the first inning when Jessica Valis led off the game with a triple and scored on the very next play on a ground-out to Hillary Barrow at second base. Houston then added its second run of the game in the second inning after Angel Shamblin hit her fourth home run of the season over the fence left-field fence.
The Cougars threatened to score again in the third inning, loading the bases on two walks and a single with no outs. The Golden Knight defense held its ground, getting the next three batters on a fly out to right field, a Kime strikeout and an amazing diving grab by Feaster in center field.
Houston loaded the bases again in the fifth inning with two outs, but this time there was nothing the defense could do as Haley Valis hit a grand slam over the left field fence to put the Cougars up, 6-0.
UCF threatened in its half of the sixth inning after Feaster laid down a bunt single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Alvarez and moved to third on a ground ball to first base. But, the senior was left stranded on a ground out to the shortstop.
Neither team would cross the plate in the seventh, giving the Cougars the 6-0 game one victory.
Game Two
Houston scored five runs off three hits, a couple intentional walks and an error to go up 5-0 at the conclusion of the first inning. The Cougars added one run in the fifth inning on a pair of hits and tacked on another in the sixth inning on a single, an error and two ground outs to take game two from the Knights.
The Black and Gold had runners in scoring position in four different innings, but could not get the clutch hit they needed to bring them home.
Angel Shamblin picked up the win in game one, giving up four hits while striking out seven. Barbie Love's victory in game two was almost the mirror image of her teammate's. The junior allowed only four hits and struck out six UCF batters.
The Golden Knights wrap up their three-game series with Houston tomorrow afternoon at the Cougar Softball Complex. The finale is set to begin at 1 p.m. ET.
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.
- UCF -