Feb. 9, 2008
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF Softball team used a four-run fifth inning and three RBI from senior Ashley Van Ryn (Atlanta, Ga.) to defeat unbeaten Kansas, 5-2, Saturday afternoon on day two of the UCF Softball Tournament at the UCF Softball Complex.
Both Van Ryn and fellow senior Allison Kime (Brandon, Fla.) had two hits in the contest to pace the Knights' offense, with Marquita Council (Orlando, Fla.) and Morgan Bullard (Columbia, S.C.) adding a hit apiece.
Kime also earned the win in the circle for UCF, allowing two runs on four hits, while striking out seven Jayhawk batters.
The Knights scored their first run of the game in the second inning, after Kime led off the inning with her third double of the weekend, advanced to third on a fielder's choice and scored on a Kansas error off the bat of Van Ryn.
The score remained 1-0 in favor of the Black and Gold throughout the next two innings, before the home team plated four runs in the fifth. Tiffany Lane (Moreno Valley, Calif.) walked to put the first runner on and Council moved her to second with a single through the left side of the infield. Abby McClain (Waterloo, Iowa) advanced both runners with a sacrifice hit to set up a RBI single for Kime to make the score 2-0. An error by the Kansas catcher allowed Council to score on a fielder's choice by freshman Brittany Hipple (Venice, Fla.), before Van Ryn hit a laser up the middle of the infield for a two-RBI single to put the Black and Gold on top, 6-0.
The Jawhawks made it interesting in the top of the seventh inning when a walk and a Val Chaple home run made the score 6-2, but it wasn't enough to top the Knights and their solid defense.
The Knights continue play in the UCF Tournament tonight against Central Arkansas at 6 p.m. at the UCF Softball Complex.
Season tickets for the 2008 season are now available and can be purchased by calling 407-UCF-1000. 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. Also check out UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pics
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