May 9, 2008
Houston, Texas (www.ucfathletics.com) - Senior Allison Kime (Brandon, Fla.) threw a two-hit shutout, her 13th of the season, while freshman Tiffany Lane (Moreno Valley, Calif.) put together a three-hit performance with two runs scored at the plate to lead the No. 2 UCF softball team to a, 3-0, blanking of UTEP Friday afternoon and into the Conference USA Softball Championship finals at Cougar Softball Stadium.
UCF will face the winner of No. 1 Houston vs. No. 5 East Carolina Saturday at 2:36 p.m. EST in the C-USA tournament championship game, televised nationally on CBS College Sports Network.
Kime recorded her 29th win of the season in the complete-game victory, striking out nine batters. The senior has thrown all 14.0 innings in the C-USA post-season tournament for the Black and Gold, allowing only seven hits to her opponents.
The top-four batters in the Knights' lineup combined for seven of their total eight hits in the contest, with Hillary Barrow (Miami, Fla.) posting a two-hit performance and Marquita Council (Orlando, Fla.) and Breanne Javier (Castaic, Calif.) each adding a hit and a RBI.
For the second-straight game of the C-USA tournament, the Knights scored the first run of the contest. In the third inning, McClain blasted a lead-off double to left centerfield, before Lane reached on a bunt single. A throwing error by the UTEP catcher on Lane's steal attempt allowed McClain to score from third base and moved Lane to the left corner. A Javier single to right centerfield scored Lane and gave the Black and Gold a two-run advantage going into the middle of the frame.
UCF took a three-run lead in the fifth inning after Lane hit a ground-rule double to right centerfield, stole third base and scored on a RBI grounder by Marquita Council (Orlando, Fla.). The run would be the eventual game-winner for the Knights, placing them one-step closer to an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
The Knights look to clinch a spot in the NCAA Tournament when they compete for the Conference USA Softball Championship title May 10 in Houston, Texas. The championship game will be televised nationally on CBS College Sports Network. 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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