April 20, 2008
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Allison Kime (Brandon, Fla.) recorded seven strikeouts in the Knights', 8-0, blanking of Memphis Sunday afternoon at the UCF Softball Complex to stake claim on the UCF softball single-season strikeout record. The senior's 270 strikeouts on the year surpass the old mark of 266 that she set last season.
Kime picked up her third victory of the series in the win, falling one hit short of pitching a perfect game. She held the Tigers scoreless, allowing only one hit, to improve her record to 24-9 on the season.
Fellow seniors Cat Snapp (Niceville, Fla.) and Ashley Van Ryn (Atlanta, Ga.) both posted a hit, a run and a sacrifice fly for the Knights, with Van Ryn adding two RBI and a stolen base to cap off an emotional Senior Day at the ball park.
"It was a really fun and exciting day for the seniors to have their parents throwing out the first pitch at the start of the game and to be recognized for their accomplishments," head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said. "Allison broke her own single-season strikeout record and Cat and Ashley came up with big hits and RBIs to help us lock in the sweep against Memphis."
Freshman Brittany Hipple (Venice, Calif.) paced UCF at the plate, recording two hits, two runs and two RBI, while junior Breanne Javier (Castaic, Calif.) also had two hits, two runs and had the game-ending RBI.
Hillary Barrow (Miami, Fla.), Kime and Hipple combined to score UCF's first run in the second inning. Barrow led off with an infield single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kime, before a Hipple single to right centerfield brought Barrow around to score. A walk to Lindsay Dean (Jacksonville, Fla.) put two runners on for Van Ryn, who belted a single up the middle to plate the Knights' second run and give her team a two-run advantage going into the third inning.
Hipple continued to produce runs for the Black and Gold in the third inning, hitting a bases-loaded single down the left field line to plate two more runs, before Van Ryn hit her second RBI, a sacrifice fly to deep right field to score the Knights' fifth run. An illegal pitch and a wild pitch by the Tigers' relief pitcher, Lydsey Sterling, allowed Hipple to score and gave the Knights a six-run lead going into the fourth inning.
Another run crossed in the fourth inning for the home team, with Snapp hitting a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Javier from third base. Javier reached base earlier in the inning on a Tiger miscue.
Javier sealed the game with a RBI single in the fifth inning to score Van Ryn from third base, forcing the game to end due to the eight-run rule.
All five of the UCF seniors saw action in the contest and made sure the UCF fans would always remember who they are, giving an all-out effort both on and off the field.
"These five seniors are the foundation for the program and we will miss them as they pursue their dreams in life," Luers-Gillispie said. "As a coaching staff, it is nice to have student-athletes who can succeed on and off the field and these young ladies exemplify all the traits that define UCF softball."
The Knights conclude their regular-season home schedule Sunday, April 27 when they host in-state rival Stetson in a 2 p.m. contest at the UCF Softball Complex.
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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