March 20, 2008
Orlando. Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Iowa native Abby McClain (Waterloo, Iowa) posted two hits and a RBI to lead the UCF softball team to a 4-1 win over visiting Iowa Thursday afternoon at the UCF Softball Complex. Ashleigh Cole (Pace, Fla.) picked up the victory in the circle, holding the Hawkeyes to only one run on four hits, while striking out six.
"It was great to see Cole pitching as strong in the seventh as she was in the first today," head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said. "She came out and threw a really impressive game. I was also proud to see Abby step up and go 2-for-3 against her home state team."
The Knights had the Hawkeyes on their toes the entire game, with aggressive base running accounting for a majority of the runs scored.
"The team was aggressive on the bases today," Luers-Gillispie said. "They took advantage of defensive mistakes by the Hawkeyes and turned them into runs."
UCF struck early in the first inning, with Marquita Council (Orlando, Fla.) and Tiffany Lane (Moreno Valley, Calif.) reaching base on consecutive singles, moving to second and third on a putout and Council scoring on a wild pitch delivered by Iowa starter Amanda Zust.
The Knights increased their lead to two runs in the second inning after Allison Kime (Brandon, Fla.) scored on a squeeze play perfectly executed by McClain. Kime reached earlier in the inning on a walk issued by Zust, before reaching third base on a fielder's choice and a putout.
The Black and Gold doubled its lead in the fifth inning thanks to a pair of Hawkeye miscues and a Hillary Barrow (Miami, Fla.) single to lead off the frame. Kime reached base for the second time of the day and stole second, drawing a throw from the Iowa catcher. On the throw to second, Barrow took off from home forcing the shortstop to make an errant throw. Kime reached third on the play and touched home on a putout one pitch later.
The Knights host Tulsa in a three-game Conference USA series March 21-22 at the UCF Softball Complex, with tomorrow's doubleheader scheduled to begin at 3 p.m., while Saturday's game is set for Noon.
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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