April 29, 2007
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF softball team made sure the seniors' last home game was a memorable one, as it beat UTEP, 6-0, for its first Conference USA series sweep in program history on Sunday at the UCF Softball Complex. The win moved the Knights' record to 35-21 on the season and 11-10 in C-USA contests. The Miners dropped to 27-21 on the year and 6-14 in C-USA play.
Allison Kime (21-9) got the win in the circle for the Knights, allowing a mere two hits to the Miners while striking out 10. With her third strikeout of the game, the junior hurler broke her own single-season strikeout record of 222 that she set one year ago. Kime now has 230 whiffs on the season, with a single road trip left on the regular-season schedule.
Senior Kacie Feaster led the offensive charge for the Black and Gold, cranking out two hits, including a two-run double, and scoring a run in the first inning.
Megan Murphy and Ashley Van Ryn also had two hits and scored a run in the contest, with Van Ryn knocking in two runs and Murphy bringing in one run.
The Golden Knights struck first in the home half of the first inning after Feaster led off the game with a bunt single back to the pitcher and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt from Cici Alvarez. Amber Lamb advanced Feaster to third on a groundout to the shortstop and Breanne Javier hit a single to right-center field to bring the senior home.
Kime led off the bottom of the second inning with a huge double over the left-fielder's head and was helped over to third by a sacrifice bunt laid down by Lindsay Dean. With two outs and a runner at third base, Van Ryn stepped up to the plate and spanked a single to left field to put the Knights up, 2-0.
UCF extended its lead to three on a single up the middle by Murphy that brought Hillary Barrow home from second base. Barrow reached earlier on a walk and got to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Kime.
Three more runs lit up the board in the sixth inning when Murphy singled to left-field and advanced to second on a fielder's choice off the bat of Dean. Van Ryn recorded her second single of the game to score Murphy from second base. Both Dean and Van Ryn moved up a base on the late throw home. With runners at second and third, Feaster smashed a double off the top of the left-field wall to stretch the Knights' lead to six runs and put the finishing touches on the win.
The Knights travel to Memphis May 5-6 for their final regular-season conference match-up. Saturday's doubleheader is set to begin at 2 p.m. ET with Sunday's series finale to get underway 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.
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