April 18, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF (26-19, 11-6 C-USA) softball team used a three-run fifth inning and another solid performance from senior Ashleigh Cole (Pace, Fla.) in the circle to secure a 4-3 win over UAB (28-14, 10-5 C-USA) Sunday at the UAB Softball Field in Conference USA action.
Cole improved her record to 17-11 on the year in the outing after allowing three runs on seven hits and striking out five in seven innings of work.
The senior also came through in the clutch on the offensive side of the ball, as she posted a single in the fifth inning. Her pinch runner, Ashley Schmitt (Tampa, Fla.), would eventually score the game-tying run in the frame.
Fellow senior Morgan Bullard (Columbia, S.C.) drove in two runs in the inning, including Schmitt. On the day, Bullard was 1-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored to lead the Black and Gold. Abby McClain (Waterloo, Iowa) was the Knights' biggest producer at the plate, as she went 2-for-3 with a home run, a RBI and one run scored.
Also tallying hits for the Black and Gold in the contest was Tiffany Lane (Moreno Valley, Calif.), who also recorded a RBI, and Marissa Menendez (Tampa, Fla.) who posted a hit and scored a run.
The Blazers were the first to put runs on the board after scoring a pair in the third, but UCF's offense went to work in the fifth inning as it plated three runs and took a one-run lead. Menendez and Cole led off the frame with back-to-back singles and a sacrifice bunt by Vanessa Perez (San Diego, Calif.) put both runners into scoring position. With two outs, Bullard laced a single up the middle to bring both runners around and even the score, before moving to second base on the throw home. A wild pitch from UAB starter Amber Torres allowed Bullard to reach third and a single through the right side off the bat of Lane gave the Black and Gold a one-run advantage.
McClain extended the Knights' lead to two runs with one swing of her bat, as she took a delivery from the Blazers' reliever, Lauren Webster, for an opposite-field home run over the right field fence. The blast was the second for the junior this season and the eighth of her career.
The Blazers would plate a single run in the seventh inning to pull within one run of the Knights, but Cole and her defense would manage to hold on for the win.
UCF returns home Wednesday for a non-conference contest with Bethune-Cookman. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the UCF Softball Complex.
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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