March 29, 2009
GREENVILLE, N.C. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF softball team struggled to get hits Sunday, stranding eight runners on base, as it fell to East Carolina, 5-0, in its Conference USA series finale at the ECU Softball Field.
The loss drops the Knights' record to 16-20 on the season and 2-7 in C-USA action, while ECU improved to 24-9 overall and 9-3 in league contests.
Kristina DeMello (Mead, Wash.) earned the loss in the circle for the Black and Gold, allowing three runs on four hits, while striking out four batters in 2.2 innings of work. Ashleigh Cole (Pace, Fla.) came in relief with two outs in the third, finishing the game with two runs on four hits with three strikeouts in 3.1 innings pitched.
Tiffany Lane (Moreno Valley, Calif.) and Breanne Javier (Castaic, Calif.) recorded the only two hits for the Black and Gold, both coming in the sixth inning. Javier also reached on an error earlier in the game, while Lindsay Dean (Jacksonville, Fla.) and Mary Helen Tyler (Marianna, Fla.) each drew walks.
One run in the second, two in the third and another in the fourth frame for East Carolina forced the Knights to play from behind the entire contest.
After another run crossed in the fifth inning for the home team, the Knights got their bats working in the bottom of the frame. Lane broke up Toni Paisley's no-hitter in the inning with a single to left-centerfield, before Javier followed with a single of her own to dead-center, putting runners at first and second with only one out. Despite getting solid contact, the Black and Gold could not get the ball through the hold, standing both runners on base.
UCF continued to threaten in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs on a walk, a Pirate miscue and a hit-by-pitch, but the Knights could not get the runs across the plate.
The Black and Gold has a week off before it hits the field again, hosting Southern Miss in a three-game C-USA series April 4-5 at the UCF Softball Complex.
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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