April 28, 2007
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF softball team picked up two must-win games over UTEP on Saturday at the UCF Softball Complex, shutting out the Miners, 8-0, in six innings in the first game and squeaking out a 1-0 victory in the second outing. With the sweep, the Knights improved to 34-21 on the year and 10-10 in Conference USA play.
Allison Kime notched her 13th shutout of the season in game one, tying her for the UCF single-season record Dottie Cupp set back in 2002. The Brandon, Fla., native allowed only three hits vs. UTEP (27-20, 6-13) while striking out eight batters for her 20th win on the year.
The Golden Knights cranked out 10 hits and scored eight runs to down UTEP, 8-0, in six innings for a game one triumph. Breanne Javier was 2-for-3 from the plate with two RBI and two runs scored. Hillary Barrow and Ashley Van Ryn also had two hits for UCF in the victory.
In game two, UCF only had two hits off of UTEP starter and Orlando, Fla., native Stacey Townsend, but that was all it would need to get the 1-0 win. Javier's third hit of the day placed her at first base and an error by the UTEP second baseman brought her all the way home to score the eventual game-winning run in the fifth inning.
Lexi Gresham picked up her first C-USA victory and her fifth win of the season as she allowed no runs and only two hits to the number one hitting team in the league. The redshirt freshman struck out four Miners and walked just one.
Kime picked up her second save of the year after coming in to close out the game in the sixth inning. In two innings of work, the junior struck out four and did not allow a hit. Kime is only three strikeouts away from breaking her own single-season strikeout record from a year ago. Last season, Kime struck out a school record 222 batters and now has 220 in 2007.
Game One
Kacie Feaster led off the home half of the first inning with a walk and took second on a ball past the UTEP catcher. Cici Alvarez then reached first on a fielding error by the Miners' third baseman, putting runners at first and second with nobody out. A walk to Amber Lamb loaded the bases for Javier who ripped a single up the middle to score both Feaster and Alvarez.
The Knights tacked on another run in the third inning after Javier recorded her second single of the game and moved to second on an infield bunt single by Barrow. Megan Murphy then roped a single to left field to bring Javier around to score from second base. Lindsay Dean hit a single of her own through the left side, but Barrow was thrown out at the plate on a perfect throw from left fielder, Ashley Ellis to end the inning. At the end of three innings, the Black and Gold was up, 3-0.
Four more runners touched home plate in the fifth inning for the Knights, started by a walk to Javier. The sophomore was advanced to second on a groundout by Barrow, and scored on a single down the left-field line by Kime, who then moved to second on an errant throw from left field. Morgan Bullard entered the game to pinch run for Kime. Bullard took third base on a groundout from Murphy before Dean walked to put runners on first and third. Van Ryn hit a laser to right-center field to score Bullard and move Dean all the way to third base. UCF had runners at second and third base for Feaster, the team's RBI leader. The senior made things look easy as she brought both runners in to score on a single through the right side.
The Miners had their first real threat of the game in the top half of the sixth inning when they loaded the bases on three walks from Kime, but Mehgan Stone grounded out to short for the final out.
The Black and Gold ended the game in the sixth inning due to the mercy rule, as Lamb scored on a single by Barrow to put the Knights up by the final eight-run margin.
Game Two
Neither team could get a run across the plate until UCF got a big break in the fifth inning. After Javier singled up the middle, Barrow laid down a sacrifice bunt to move her to second base. The Miner second baseman could not handle the throw from first baseman Simone Holland and the ball rolled to the right-hand corner of the field. Javier used her speed to round the bases and score all the way from first base.
After securing the 1-0 lead, the Black and Gold brought in game one starter, Kime, to close out the contest. She did not allow a run in her two innings on the mound, securing the 1-0 win.
The Golden Knights close out their C-USA series with UTEP Sunday at the UCF Softball Complex. The day will be highlighted by Senior Day, where Alvarez, Feaster and Lamb will all be recognized for their four-year careers in a black and gold uniform. The event will kick-off at 11:45 a.m. with the game's first pitch scheduled for noon.
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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