April 25, 2009
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF softball team posted two one-run victories to sweep a Conference USA doubleheader from Memphis (21-27, 6-15) at Tiger Softball Complex on Saturday afternoon. The Knights defeated the Tigers, 3-2, in the opening contest, before coming from behind to earn a, 4-3, win in the nightcap.
With the win, the Black and Gold improved to 25-25 overall on the season and 9-11 in league play.
Ashleigh Cole (Pace, Fla.) earned the win in the circle for the Knights in the both games to improve her record to 16-7 on the season. The junior hurler allowed only two runs on nine hits, while striking out five, in her 15th complete-game outing of the year in the opening contest, before holding Memphis to only one hit in 4.0 innings of relief in game two.
In the opening game Hillary Barrow (Miami, Fla.) paced the visiting Black and Gold with two doubles, a RBI and a run scored, while Tiffany Lane (Moreno Valley, Calif.) added a pair of hits as the designated player. Lindsay Dean (Jacksonville, Fla.) belted a home run for the Knights and Cole posted the game-winning RBI single in the sixth inning.
In the nightcap, Breanne Javier (Castaic, Calif.) went 3-for-4 with one run scored and the game-winning RBI to lead UCF at the plate. Mary Helen Tyler (Marianna, Fla.) added a RBI triple, while Abby McClain (Waterloo, Iowa) and Cole also drove home runs for the visiting team.
GAME ONE
A home run by Memphis' Kailey Kassner in the second inning of the first game put the Black and Gold down by a run early in the contest. But, the Knights evened the score two frames later, after Barrow lined a RBI double into left centerfield, UCF's first hit of the game, to score Javier all the way from first base. Javier reached base a play earlier when the Tigers' third baseman misplayed a ball to her left.
The Knights' defense continued to shine, turning its program-record 30th double play of the season in the fourth inning to ring up both Kassner and Tori Gross on the base paths.
Dean took the momentum the defense generated and brought it to the offensive side of the ball, leading off the top of the fifth with a solo home run over the left-centerfield wall to give UCF its first lead of the game and of the series.
The home run for the senior was her third of the season and ninth of her career. The homer was also the 19th of the year for the Knights as a team, the most for the squad since hitting 51 bombs in 2005.
UCF and Memphis traded runs in the fifth and sixth innings, as Memphis evened the game in the bottom of the fifth on a pair of singles, a wild pitch and a RBI single off the bat of Leila Dolfo, before a RBI single by Cole gave the lead right back to the Knights in the sixth.
Barrow led off the frame with her second double of the game, and third of the series, before advancing to third base on a sacrifice bunt laid down by Vanessa Perez (San Diego, Calif.), which set up Cole's game-winning RBI into left field.
GAME TWO
The Knights fell down by one in the first inning for the second-straight game in the nightcap, after Dolfo hit a home run to lead off the home half of the inning. But, Tyler evened the game in the second frame with her first career triple. Perez reached base on a fielding error by the Tigers' third baseman with one out in the frame, before Tyler knocked her around from first with the three-bagger down the right-field line.
Memphis would tag two more runs on the board in the third inning to take a 3-1 lead, before UCF pulled within one run in the fifth. Land touched first on a fielder's choice and stole second base to put herself into scoring position for McClain. The sophomore did what she does best and drove Land in with her 15th double of the season, matching Barrow for the team-lead in doubles.
For the second-straight game, Cole came up with a clutch hit to help her cause in the sixth inning. The junior placed a single into left field to score Javier from third base and to even the game at three runs apiece.
The UCF defense tallied another double play in the bottom of the sixth, when Cole caught an attempted sacrifice bunt from Vanessa Walle and got Brittany Gooch straying too far from first base. The Knights totaled four double plays in the three-game series with the Tigers, and now have seven in their last four games.
The Black and Gold finally took the lead back for good in the top of the seventh inning on a Javier single. The senior plated Land from third base on the knock to centerfield to win the game. Land singled to lead off the frame and stole second base, before McClain's sacrifice bunt advanced her to third.
Kristina DeMello (Mead, Wash.) started the contest in the circle for the Knights, allowing three runs on five hits in three innings of work.
The UCF softball team will play its final C-USA series of 2009 against UTEP at the UCF Softball Complex on May 2-3. 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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