March 15, 2008
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie registered career victory number 500 as the UCF softball team split a doubleheader with Conference USA-foe, UAB, at George Ward Field Saturday afternoon. The Knights fell 2-0 in the opening game, before posting a 3-2 victory in the nightcap. Marquita Council (Orlando, Fla.) paced the Knights' offense, posting three hits on the day and scoring two runs.
Breanne Javier (Castaic, Calif.) had two hits and a pair of RBI in the Black and Gold's win in game two, while Council and Hillary Barrow (Miami, Fla.) also recorded a pair of hits at the plate. Barrow's double in the seventh inning was the only extra-base hit of the doubleheader.
Allison Kime (Brandon, Fla.) got the win in the circle, allowing two runs on six hits, while striking out nine batters. The victory was the ninth on the season for the senior hurler.
The Knights used four-consecutive singles from Council, Tiffany Lane (Moreno Valley, Calif.), Javier and Barrow to plate two runs in the opening frame of the nightcap, making the score 2-0 after one-half inning of play. Lane's single in the inning extended her hitting streak to seven games, the second longest stint this season.
The top of the Knights' batting order continued to produce in the second inning, with Council reaching base on a Blazer miscue, Lane walking and Javier knocking in the run with a single up the middle of the infield, giving the Black and Gold a three-run advantage.
The Blazers cut the UCF lead to two runs in the third inning on a pair of singles and a walk, before posting their second run of the contest in the sixth inning off two hits and two walks.
But the Knights' secured the win by shutting down UAB's top of the order in the bottom of the seventh, thanks to two strikeouts from Kime.
The UCF bats could not find their rhythm in the opening game, as Council and Lane posted the only two hits for the visiting team, making them two of only five Knights to reach base in the contest.
Ashleigh Cole (Pace, Fla.) suffered the loss in the game, despite giving up only one earned run on five hits and fanning six. Her record now moves to 8-6 on the season.
UAB started the scoring in game one in the second inning, plating Andrea Rogers on a trio of singles. The Blazers' second run of the contest came in the fourth inning on a hit-by-pitch, a single and an error by the Knights.
UCF concludes its three-game series with the Blazers Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.
Season tickets for the 2008 season are still 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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