March 30, 2010
| Game Day Essentials UCF vs. No. 6 Florida |
| Where ? UCF Softball Complex (600) Orlando, Fla. Schedule Team Records Series Record Promotions |
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Having won eight of its last nine contests, which includes wins over No. 22 Ohio State and a pair of Conference USA sweeps, the UCF softball team is set to tangle with in-state rival No. 6 Florida Wednesday at the UCF Softball Complex. First pitch for the game, scheduled to air live on Bright House Sports Network, is set for 7:05 p.m.
With no tickets remaining for the contest, fans have the opportunity to bring their own chairs and watch from behind the outfield fence free of charge.
The first 100 fans through the gate for Wednesday's contest will receive a free black UCF t-shirt, with many additional promotions to take place during the game. The night's National Anthem will be played by catcher Sam Soltis (Plantation, Fla.) on her guitar, while the first pitch will be thrown out by Helen Donegan, UCF's Vice President of Community Relations.
Heading into the contest with the Gators, the Knights are riding a four-game winning streak after sweeping Southern Miss last weekend on the road, while also having won eight of its last nine games for a 22-12 overall record. With the sweep over the Golden Eagles, UCF improved its league-leading record to 7-1, its best C-USA start since joining the league.
For her performance in the circle against Southern Miss, senior Ashleigh Cole (Pace, Fla.) was awarded C-USA's Co-Pitcher of the Week honor for only the second time in her career. In 19.0 innings of work in the circle during the week, Cole posted a 1.11 ERA, a .176 opponent batting average, 12 strikeouts and walked only three batters, while posting a one-hit shutout against No. 22 Ohio State and a pair of victories against Southern Miss.
Also coming up big for the Knights last week during their six-game stretch was fellow senior Hillary Barrow (Miami, Fla.). Barrow hit .364 with eight hits, seven RBI and five runs scored on the week. The third baseman posted the game-winning RBI against No. 22 Ohio State Wednesday, before also posting the game-winning RBI with her first career grand slam against Cornell Thursday. In the series against Southern Miss, Barrow was 5-for-12 with three runs scored, two RBI and two stolen bases. Barrow went 3-for-5 with one run scored, a RBI and a stolen base in the nightcap Saturday, which also included the game-winning RBI in the ninth inning.
Barrow currently leads the Knights in runs (21), hits (29), doubles (5), home runs (5), RBI (23), total bases (49) and slugging percentage (.476), while sitting in second in batting average (.282). Sophomore Natalie Land (Mayo, Fla.) paces the Black and Gold with a .322 batting average, 10 sacrifice hits and 12 stolen bases.
Florida enters the mid-week contest with a 23-4 record on the season and a No. 6 ranking in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Coaches Poll after taking two games from No. 7 Alabama in a three-game SEC series last weekend. The Gators are batting .330 as a team in 2010, with six different players batting .300 or better.
Francesca Enea paces Florida with a .395 batting average, 28 runs scored, 30 hits, 14 home runs, 40 RBI, a 1.000 slugging percentage, 20 walks and a .535 on-base percentage.
In 2010, the Knights are 3-2 against ranked opponents, having defeated No. 16 Tennessee, No. 9 Alabama and No. 22 Ohio State earlier in the season, while they also hold a 3-2 record against teams from the Southeastern Conference, winning contests against Tennessee, Alabama and South Carolina.
In 10 games played between the two squads, Florida leads the all-time series, 8-2. Both of UCF's wins against the Gators have come during the NCAA Regional Tournament at Katie Seashole Pressley Stadium, with the Knights defeated the home team in both 2005 and 2008. The win against Florida in 2008 broke the Gators' 36-game winning streak and their 41-game winning streak at Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium, handing Florida only its third loss of the season.
Season tickets for the 2010 season are only $40 and are on sale now, while single-game tickets are also available for purchase. Tickets can be purchased online at UCFAthletics.com or through the Athletics Ticket Office by calling (407) 823-1000.
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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