Feb. 15, 2011
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By Sarah Tarasewicz
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF softball team is set to host its 2011 home-opener when it takes on in-state rival North Florida Wednesday at the UCF Softball Complex. The game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. with 2010 Conference USA Football Coach of the Year George O'Leary set to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
The first 100 fans through the gate for UCF's contest vs. the Ospreys will receive a 2011 softball schedule poster autographed by the Knights, while fans that are not able to attend the game can follow the action live through Knights All-Access player and Gametracker at UCFAthletics.com.
The Black and Gold enters the game with a 1-3 record following its participation in the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament hosted by UCLA last weekend. UCF posted a 9-6 victory over Utah State in its season-opener at the event, before dropping three-straight games to San Diego State, No. 1 UCLA and North Dakota State, all of whom participated in the NCAA Tournament last season.
Junior Allie Jest (Stone Mountain, Ga.) paced the Black and Gold over the weekend after tallying at least one hit in each of the team's four contests. She posted a team-high .571 batting average with eight hits, four runs scored, a double, a triple, a walk and three stolen bases to go along with a .786 slugging percentage and a .600 on-base percentage.
Thanks to Jest's eight hits, the Knights outhit their opponents, 29-26, at the tournament, while also boasting a .284 team batting average compared to their opponent's .274.
North Florida is traveling to Orlando with a 0-5 record after playing in the FIU Combat Classic in Miami, Fla., last weekend. The Ospreys were handed losses by Memphis, DePaul, Ohio State, Kentucky and host FIU during the event.
As a team, North Florida is batting .097 for the year, with Kelly Dill and Alyson Bailey leading the offense with two hits apiece. One of Dill's hits over the weekend was a home run, while Bailey pair of hits were doubles.
The Knights and the Ospreys will be meeting for the ninth time on Wednesday, with the Black and Gold holding the advantage in the all-time series, 6-2.
The Black and Gold will play 33 home games at the UCF Softball Complex, with season tickets for the 2011 season costing only $40. Tickets are available for purchase online at UCFAthletics.com and Ticketmaster.com, or by calling the UCF Athletics Ticket Office at (407) UCF-1000.