Feb. 14, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Junior Kristina DeMello (Mead, Wash.) fanned a career-high seven batters in a complete-game outing Saturday afternoon to lead the UCF (4-5) softball team to a, 4-1, victory over visiting George Mason (1-2) at the UCF Softball Complex on the second day of the UCF Early Bird Tournament.
The hurler did not give up an earned run in the contest, allowing only three hits and two walks to earn her first win of the season and her first as a Knight.
Tiffany Lane (Moreno Valley, Calif.) was 2-for-4 at the plate with a triple and a run scored, while freshman Vanessa Perez (San Diego, Calif.) added a 2-for-3 performance with a double and Abby McClain (Waterloo, Iowa) checked in with two hits and a stolen base.
Mary Helen Tyler (Marianna, Fla.) posted her first collegiate RBI and scored her first run in the win.
The Knights scored first in the game against George Mason after Perez led off the inning with a double down the left-field line and scored on a throwing error by the Patriots' first baseman on a Natalie Land (Mayo, Fla.) bunt. Land would advance to second on the play, move to third on a sacrifice hit by Dean and finally score on a fielder's choice off the bat of Tyler to put UCF by two.
Lane and Breanne Javier (Castaic, Calif.) combined to put the Black and Gold up by three runs in the fifth, with Lane crushing a triple to right centerfield, her third of the weekend, and Javier knocking her in with a RBI grounder to the left side.
UCF extended its lead to four one inning later. Tyler drew a walk and eventually scored on two fielding miscues by George Mason.
The Knights will face No. 11 Tennessee today at 3:30 p.m. in their final game of the UCF Early Bird Classic.
Season tickets are on sale now for the 2009 softball season, which features 34 home games at the UCF Softball Complex. For the latest news on the Knights, log on to www.UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit www.UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
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