April 11, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Shortstop Tiffany Lane (Moreno Valley, Calif.) laced her eighth triple of the season, a three-RBI shot down the right-field line in the fourth inning, to tie for the national-lead in triples, as the UCF softball team fell to visiting Marshall, 9-6, Sunday afternoon in the Conference USA-series finale at the UCF Softball Complex.
Lane's triple was her eighth in 2009 and matched Southern University's Audrey Phillips for the most triples in the nation this season. The sophomore also set a UCF program-record for triples in a season with the shot down the line and extended her lead on the program's all-time register, while also taking sole possession of third on the C-USA all-time register with 15-career triples.
The sophomore added another hit, a sacrifice bunt and a run to go along with her three RBI, while Breanne Javier (Castaic, Calif.) registered two hits, two RBI and scored a run for the Black and Gold. Javier's RBI in the frame was her 30th on the year, a mark that leads the team.
Also posting two hits for the Knights were junior Mary Helen Tyler (Marianna, Fla.) and freshman Natalie Land (Mayo, Fla.). Tyler had hits in both the second and third innings, and brought in UCF's final run in the seventh on a putout, and Land posted a hit in both the second and fourth innings, while scoring a run in the Knights' four-run fourth inning.
Kristina DeMello (Mead, Wash.) earned the loss in the circle for the home team, who used a combination of three different pitchers in the contest. The hurler allowed six runs, only three of which were earned, on seven hits in three innings of work, while fellow junior Ashleigh Cole (Pace, Fla.) made two appearances, including the start, in the game. Cole combined to allow three runs on six hits in three innings pitched. Magon Paul (Virginia Beach, Va.) would finish the game on the rubber, shutting out the Herd in the final frame.
The Knights got on the board first in their opening at-bat, with Abby McClain (Waterloo, Iowa) leading off the bottom half of the frame with a double to right centerfield, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt off the bat Lane and scored on a RBI single through the right-side of the infield by Javier.
A home run by Marshall's Rebecca Gamby to lead off the second inning evened the game, before the Thundering Herd put together a four-run fourth inning to take a four-run lead heading into the bottom of the frame.
UCF battled back to even the game on a two-out rally, highlighted by a three-RBI triple down the right-field line by Lane and a RBI single by Javier. The Black and Gold scored all of their runs in the fourth inning with two outs, with Morgan Bullard (Columbia, S.C.) starting the comeback after getting pegged by a delivery from Marshall starter, Katelyn Murphree. A single through the left side by Land put two runners on and forced the Herd to make a pitching change. Reliever Autumn Mitchell hit McClain with a pitch to load the bases for Lane. From there, the Black and Gold would go on to even the game with four runs heading into the fifth.
Marshall continued to put the bat on the ball in the sixth inning, plating three runs on three hits, before scoring another run in the top of the seventh to pull further ahead of the home team.
The Knights would manage to score one more run in the bottom of the seventh, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.
UCF is back in action Wednesday when they face No. 1 Florida at 6 p.m. at Katie Seashole Pressley Stadium.
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.
-UCF-