April 17, 2010
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF softball team dropped both games of its Conference USA doubleheader at UAB Saturday, falling in the first game, 2-1, before losing the nightcap, 5-2, to fall to 25-19 overall and 10-6 in league play.
The pair of losses to the Blazers (28-13, 10-4 C-USA) dropped the Knights out of first place in C-USA standings into fourth place behind East Carolina, UAB and Tulsa.
GAME ONE - UCF 1, UAB 2 Senior Ashleigh Cole (Pace, Fla.) did all that she could do in the circle in the opening contest as she gave up only three hits to the Blazers and held them without an earned run in her 23rd complete-game outing of the season. The loss dropped Cole's record to 16-11 on the year.
Both Natalie Land (Mayo, Fla.) and Morgan Bullard (Columbia, S.C.) posted two hits in the contest, with Land also adding a stolen base.
Hillary Barrow (Miami, Fla.) had the game's only extra-base hit with a double in the fourth inning, and also scored the lone run for the Black and Gold in the same frame. Cole and Vanessa Perez (San Diego, Calif.) also tallied pokes for the visiting squad.
Despite not getting a hit in the opening game, senior Mary Helen Tyler (Marianna, Fla.) drove in UCF's only run to post her first RBI of 2010.
UCF was the first to put a run across in the contest, as Tyler's grounder to the shortstop allowed Barrow to score from third base in the fourth inning. Barrow led off the frame with a double to right centerfield, before Menendez moved her to third with a sacrifice bunt.
The Black and Gold would hold on to the one-run advantage for two innings, before a bases-loaded error allowed UAB to plate two runs and reverse the role on the Knights.
The Black and Gold would have the opportunity to even the score in the top of the seventh, but UAB was able to get Bullard out on a play at the plate with two outs to bring the game to a close.
GAME TWO - UCF 2, UAB 5 Land and Abby McClain (Waterloo, Iowa) each posted a hit and scored a run, while Barrow tallied a RBI single to lead UCF offensively in the nightcap. Lane and Menendez each also recorded a hit in the 5-2 defeat.
In the circle, senior Kristina DeMello (Mead, Wash.) fell to 5-6 on the year after being tagged with the loss. The hurler allowed five runs on eight hits, while striking out four batters in the complete-game outing.
The home team scored four of its five runs in the first inning. The Blazers led off the inning with a double, a sacrifice bunt, a single and three-run home run to score all of their runs in the frame. DeMello would then fan two-straight batters to get out of the inning.
Another run would cross the plate for UAB in the third inning, before UCF finally got its offense rolling in the sixth. The Black and Gold posted two runs in the frame, but it was too little too late as the Blazers earned the doubleheader sweep.
The Knights plated the two runs on back-to-back-to-back two-out singles from Land, McClain and Barrow and with the help of a fielding miscue by UAB.
The Knights are set to finish out the three-game series with the Blazers Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
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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