March 29, 2008
UCF 2, Marshall 1
UCF 5, Marshall 3
Huntington, W.Va. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Allison Kime (Brandon, Fla.) was nothing less than dominant Saturday afternoon, posting 13 strikeouts while allowing only two hits and one unearned run to lead the UCF softball team to a 2-1 victory over Marshall in the first of two games at the Dorothy `Dot' Hicks Field, before coming in relief in game two to help the Knights to a 5-3 victory over the Herd.
The win in game one was the ninth-straight and 16th of the season for Kime, while the win in the nightcap was the 11th -consecutive victory for the Knights, moving their overall record to 29-14 on the season and 8-3 in Conference USA.
The senior was nearly perfect through five innings in the opening contest, only allowing a walk to the Herd's Rachel Folden in the fourth. Both of Marshall's hits came in the final two innings of the game, while a throwing error allowed the only runner to score for Marshall to reach base.
Kime had two strikeouts in every inning of the game, with the exception of the sixth inning, where she registered one. The hurler also fanned all but one batter in the Marshall lineup at least once in the contest, with Caitlyn Jackson being the only batter not to strikeout versus the right-handed pitcher.
Lexi Gresham (Fresno, Calif.) and Breanne Javier (Castaic, Cali.) both registered two hits for the Black and Gold, with Gresham hitting a double in the second inning and Javier hitting pinch runner Morgan Bullard home in the same inning. Kime also registered a double for the Knights in the sixth inning.
The Knights wasted no time scoring the first run of the game, with Tiffany Lane (Moreno Valley, Calif.) reaching on a single up the middle. She stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by Marshall catcher, Folden, on the play, and scored on a grounder by Javier.
UCF plated its second run in the top of the second inning, after Gresham doubled down the left-field line and scored on a RBI single by Lindsay Dean (Jacksonville, Fla.). The run would hold up as the eventual game-winner as the Thundering Herd plated a run in the sixth inning.
Marshall's only run was scored after a throwing error allowed Kristina Knecht to reach first base and a sacrifice hit by Deanna Tourville moved her to second base. A two-out double down the right-field line by Samantha Rodriguez, the first hit of the game allowed by Kime, allowed the runner to score.
In game two, UCF used a five-run fifth inning to sweep Saturday's doubleheader and extend its winning streak to 11 games.
Ashleigh Cole (Pace, Fla.) picked up the win in the circle for the Knights, moving her record to 11-6 on the season. She allowed only one run on three hits, while striking out three in four innings of work.
Javier and Cole paced the Black and Gold's offense in the second game of the day, with Javier posting two hits and a RBI, while Cole added two hits.
Marshall scored first with Folden hitting a home run to dead-centerfield in the bottom of the third inning.
UCF answered back in the fifth inning scoring two runs after Cat Snapp (Niceville, Fla.) reached after getting hit by a pitch, Cole singled and both runners advanced on a throwing error by the right fielder. Abby McClain (Waterloo, Iowa) drove in the tying run with a RBI single and a fielding error by the Herd shortstop loaded the bases for the Knights. Lane connected on a single through the right side to score the go-ahead run and keep the bases loaded with nobody out. Javier blooped a single over the second baseman's head to give UCF a two-run lead, before Hillary Barrow (Miami, Fla.) and Kime both drew bases-loaded walks to extend the Black and Gold lead, 5-1.
Kime entered the game in relief in the fifth inning, with two singles and a stolen base allowing Marshall to plate its second run, making the score 5-2 at the end of five.
The Herd cut the Knights' lead to two runs in the bottom of the sixth after a walk and a RBI double by Marcena Bertoldo gave them their third run of the game, but the Marshall rally would end there, as Kime held its bats at bay in the final inning.
Kime allowed two runs on four hits, while striking out five in three innings of relief. On the day, the senior hurler registered 18 strikeouts in 10 total innings.
The Knights conclude their three-game series with Marshall Sunday at 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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