May 10, 2007
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Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF softball team dropped a 2-1 decision to top-seeded Houston Thursday night in game four of the 2007 Conference USA Softball Championship presented by Coca-Cola at the UCF Softball Complex. With the loss, the fourth-seeded Knights will face-third seeded Tulsa in the first game on Friday at 10 a.m.
UCF missed a prime opportunity to score in the top half of the fourth after loading the bases with just one out. However, a line drive to right off the bat of Cat Snapp turned into a double play to end the inning.
Houston broke the 0-0 tie in the fifth inning when Laura Durham led off the Cougars' half of the frame with a solo shot to straight-away center off UCF starter Ashleigh Cole.
The Knights answered back the next inning with a run of their own, to tie the game at 1-1. Cici Alvarez reached first base on a fielding error by the Houston first baseman and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Amber Lamb. Alvarez then came around to score after Breanne Javier blooped an opposite-field single down the left-field line.
Javier advanced to second on another fielding error by the Cougars, but UH starter Angel Shamblin was able to pitch her way out of the jam.
Junior Allison Kime entered the game in the sixth, replacing Cole with the score tied at 1-1, but the Cougars were able to score the go-ahead run of the Knights' ace. Houston tallied the tie-breaking run after Elaina Nordstrom struck out, but safely reached the bag on a dropped third strike and an errant throw by Snapp behind the plate. Christa Raley then traded spots with Nordstrom on a fielder's choice and proceeded to steal second base on the next play, which ended up being one of the Cougars' most critical plays of the game. The next batter, Haley Valis, knocked a single to left field allowing Raley to slide home safely for the eventual game-winning run.
Cole allowed only two hits and the one run in five innings of work, while Shamblin tossed the complete game for the Cougars to improve to 27-7 on the season. Javier, Lamb and Kime each recorded hits in the contest for the Knights.
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