April 22, 2007
Houston, Texas (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF softball team dropped to 32-21 on the season and 8-10 in Conference USA as the Golden Knights just could not keep up with the Houston (35-14, 16-2 C-USA) bats, dropping the league series finale, 7-0 at the Cougar Softball Stadium.
Five different UCF batters recorded hits in the game as the Golden Knights stranded five runners on base.
Allison Kime took the loss in the circle for the Black and Gold despite allowing four earned runs on only five hits, while going all seven innings.
Houston kicked off the first inning with a single run, compliments of two Golden Knight errors, two walks and a couple stolen bases. With one out and runners at first and third, Amber Lamb got the Black and Gold out of the jam turning a double play to get out of the inning down only one run.
Cici Alvarez reached base in the fourth inning on an infield single to third base with only one out. Lamb advanced her to second base on a bunt single past the infield to put runners on first and second. After a long fought battle, Kime ripped a screamer to left field. Alvarez sped to third and tried to score, but left fielder Laura Durham threw a laser right on target to get the senior out at home for the second out of the inning. Breanne Javier loaded the bases for Ashleigh Cole with two outs after she was handed a free base by Houston pitcher, Angel Shamblin. The junior hurler got out of the pickle as Cole's hit dropped in front of the plate. All the catcher had to do was pick up the ball and touch home plate to end the UCF threat.
The Cougars added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Durham walked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an UCF throwing error. A single up the middle put another runner on for Houston with two outs, before Jessica Valis hit a triple to right field to plate both runners. Pinch hitter Laurie Wagner registered the third out to Javier at first base, but not before Houston went up, 4-0.
Hillary Barrow crushed a single to left field with two down in the fifth inning, but Shamblin recorded her third strikeout of the inning to move the game into the bottom of the inning.
Three more Houston runners crossed home plate in the sixth inning to put the Cougars ahead by seven going into the seventh inning. A walk and a double from Amanda Grote plated the first run, while an intentional walk and a single up the middle scored the final two runs for the home team to secure the 7-0 win over the Golden Knights.
UCF is back in action April 28-29 when it hosts UTEP in its final home series of the season at the UCF Softball Complex. Saturday's doubleheader is schedule to start at 1 p.m. ET with Sunday's game to begin at Noon 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.
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