March 10, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF softball team struggled to get a timely hit Tuesday, as it fell to both Ball State (5-9) and Kennesaw State (11-11) in a non-conference doubleheader at the UCF Softball Complex. The Knights opened the day with a 1-0 loss to the Cardinals, before dropping the nightcap to the Owls, 3-1.
UCF left 16 runners on base in the doubleheader, despite getting 13 hits from its offense.
The pair of defeats evens the Black and Gold's record to 14-14 on the season, while it holds a 0-3 clip in Conference USA action.
GAME ONE - UCF 0, BALL STATE 1 | Box Score
UCF outhit the Cardinals, 6-4, in the opening contest against Ball State, but stranded eight runners on base in the loss, including three in the third inning.
Senior Magon Paul (Virginia Beach, Va.) led the Knights at the plate, while also getting tagged with the loss in the circle. The hurler went 2-for-3 offensively for the home team and dropped her record to 2-3 on the season after allowing only one run on four hits in a complete-game effort on the mound.
Also posting hits in the game were Abby McClain (Waterloo, Iowa), Tiffany Lane (Moreno Valley, Calif.), Hillary Barrow (Miami, Fla.) and Tenisha Dixon (New Port Richey, Fla.).
Scoring did not come easy for either team in the contest, as the game remained scoreless through six innings, until Ball State put the game-winning run across in the top of the seventh on a single and a RBI double.
GAME TWO - UCF 1, KENNESAW STATE 3 | Box Score
The Black and Gold left eight runners on base for the second-straight contest in the loss to the Owls, despite getting two hits, including a double, from junior Mary Helen Tyler (Marianna, Fla.).
Also cranking out a double for the Knight was senior Lindsay Dean (Jacksonville, Fla.), whose extra-base hit came in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Kristina DeMello (Mead, Wash.) earned the loss in the circle after allowing two runs on six hits in 4.0 innings of work, while Ashleigh Cole (Pace, Fla.) came in to finish the game with five strikeouts in 3.0 innings of relief.
The Knights opened the game strong, plating their first run of the day in the opening frame against Kennesaw State after McClain and Lane led off with back-to-back singles up the middle. McClain advanced to third on a fielder's choice off the bat of Javier and scored on an errant through by the catcher on Javier's stolen base.
Kennesaw State evened the score in the following frame on a pair of hits and a wild pitch, before scoring the game-winning run two innings later on a RBI walk.
UCF will host its Conference USA home-opener this weekend when UAB travels to the UCF Softball Complex. The action gets underway with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday, before concluding Sunday at Noon.
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.
GAME NOTES:
- Morgan Bullard pinch-running appearance in the opening contest was her first in a game since getting injured at Arizona State on Feb. 7.
- With the pair of losses, UCF has now lost six-straight contests and sit at .500 for the first time since Feb. 18.
- With her single in the fifth inning against Kennesaw State, Hillary Barrow extended her hitting steak to five games, her longest of 2009.
- The Knights were shutout for only the third time this season in the loss to Ball State.
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