Oct. 31, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF softball team concluded its fall season Saturday with a pair of shutout victories over Rollins and Bethune-Cookman at the UCF Fall Invitational at the UCF Softball Complex.
The Knights kicked off the tournament with an 8-0 win over Rollins, before concluding the event with a 9-0 blanking of the Wildcats that afternoon.
Freshman Arielle Palafox (Lakewood, Calif.) paced UCF's offense after posting a .833 batting average with five hits, two doubles, three RBI and one run scored. The first baseman registered a slugging percentage of 1.167 in the doubleheader, while recording a .833 on-base percentage.
Mary Helen Tyler (Marianna, Fla.) and Marissa Menendez (Tampa, Fla.) also put up big numbers for the Knights, with Tyler going 3-for-6 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored, while Menendez posted two hits, including a double, and scored four runs.
Seniors Ashleigh Cole (Pace, Fla.) and Kristina DeMello (Mead, Wash.) kept the visiting bats at bay in the circle on the day. Cole earned the victory over Bethune-Cookman in game two, allowing only one hit and two walks, while striking out five in four innings of work, while DeMello earned the opening-game victory over Rollins after giving up only one hit and two walks, while striking out four in four innings on the mound.
In a combined three innings of relief, junior Diana Rojas (Miami, Fla.) did not give up a hit and struck out one for the Black and Gold in the pair of contests. Freshman Kazandra Holliday (Bremerton, Wash.) also saw action in the circle, giving up only one hit and striking out one in two innings of work.
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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