April 6, 2008
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Allison Kime (Brandon, Fla.) went a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI to lead the UCF softball team to a 6-4 upset over No. 9 Houston at the UCF Softball Complex Sunday afternoon. The senior also picked up the win in the circle for the Knights, allowing three earned runs on eight hits, while striking out five in six innings of relief.
The win boosted Kime's record to 19-8 on the season and 8-2 in Conference USA play, while also snapping the Cougars' seven-game winning streak. The UCF victory was also the first all-time against Houston.
"It was exciting to see our offense explode for five runs in the first inning," head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said. "Allison (Kime) came in and had a great game on the mound as well as at the plate to help us take game two from No. 9-ranked Houston."
Breanne Javier (Castaic, Calif.) had two hits and a run scored for UCF, while Ashley Van Ryn (Atlanta, Ga.) registered a hit and two RBI. Hillary Barrow (Miami, Fla.) and Cat Snapp (Niceville, Fla.) each added a RBI for the home team in the win.
The game was originally scheduled for 3 p.m. yesterday, but due to severe weather in the Orlando area, was postponed until early today following a half inning of play.
The Knights took advantage of the days rest, posting five runs in the bottom of the first inning. Tiffany Lane (Moreno Valley, Calif.) starting things off with a lead-off walk and Marquita Council (Orlando, Fla.) moved her with a sacrifice bunt, reaching base safely on a Houston throwing error. Javier singled, before Barrow drew a bases-loaded walk to score the first run of the game. Kime's single scored Council from third and a sacrifice fly to centerfield by Snapp put the Knights up by three. Van Ryn capped off the inning with a two-RBI single through the right side, giving the Black and Gold a 5-0 advantage going into the second inning.
Kime helped out her own cause in the third inning, nailing a solo home run over the left field fence off Houston ace, Angel Shamblin. The round-tripper was the second for the senior this season and the first for the Knights at the UCF Softball Complex in 2008.
Three straight hits, including back-to-back doubles, and a UCF throwing error allowed the Cougars to cut the Knights' lead in half in the fifth inning, plating three runs in the frame.
Another run crossed the plate for Houston in the sixth inning, with Shamblin leading off the frame with a double, moving to third on a sacrifice bunt and scoring on a sacrifice fly, but Kime and the Knights' defense held the Cougars scoreless in the final frame to pick up the critical C-USA victory.
The Knights stay at home for a pair of non-conference games mid-week, hosting Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday at 5 p.m., and Florida State in a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
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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