April 2, 2010
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Junior Tiffany Lane (Moreno Valley, Calif.) posted three doubles, while seniors Ashleigh Cole (Pace, Fla.) and Kristina DeMello (Mead, Wash.) each pitched solid games in the circle Friday afternoon, but it was not enough as the UCF (22-15, 7-3 C-USA) softball team dropped a pair of Conference USA contests to East Carolina (19-12, 4-1 C-USA) at the UCF Softball Complex. In both games of the day, the Pirates topped the Knights, 2-0, with the nightcap finishing in eight innings.
Cole suffered the loss in the opening game, despite allowing only two runs on two hits and striking out five in her 19th compete-game outing of the season to fall to 14-8 on the year.
DeMello worked hard for the Black and Gold in the nightcap, shutting down ECU's offense through regulation, but was tagged with the loss after the Pirates were able to plate two runs in the eighth frame. In her second-straight extra-inning outing, DeMello allowed only one earned run on six hits and struck out six. The hurler was also able to get herself out of jams throughout the game, posting a strikeout with bases loaded in the second inning, getting a pop out in the third with two runners on and caught a batter looking for the third out in the seventh with two runners at first and second.
"I thought Cole and DeMello did a really great job in the circle today," assistant coach Stephanie Best said. "They did more than enough to put us in position to win either one of those games, but our offense has to start putting pressure on their defense and force them to make tough plays."
Lane was one of only two UCF batters to post more than one hit in the doubleheader, going 3-for-7 with three doubles, while fellow junior Abby McClain (Waterloo, Iowa) tallied two hits, a double and a walk for the home team.
The Knights had ample opportunities to score in both games, but stranded a total of 15 runners on base, including five in the opening contest and 10 in the nightcap.
"We have another chance tomorrow to get our offense back on track," Best said. "We will take today as a humbling experience and learn all that we can from it."
Saturday, the Knights will conclude the series at 12 p.m. and will also hold an Easter egg hunt for kids 12 and under following the contest. UCF Softball Bingo will also be in full swing for the series finale.
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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