Feb. 26, 2012
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By Andrew Jennette
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF softball team set a goal after dropping six-consecutive games earlier this season that it would fight to get back over .500 by the end of the UCF & Courtyard by Marriott Invitational. After picking up a narrow 4-3 victory over Eastern Michigan (2-4) on Sunday at the UCF Softball Complex, the Knights achieved that goal as they earned their third-straight win to improve to 8-7 on the season.
Freshman Mackenzie Audas (Plant City, Fla.) picked up her fourth win of the season and second win of the tournament despite not having her best stuff. Audas pitched seven innings and gave up five hits, three runs, with three walks and seven strikeouts.
Audas struggled with her command early in the game as she walked two hitters in the opening inning. Her wildness cost her the game's first run as the Eagles scored on an RBI single just over the glove of a leaping Natalie Land (Mayo, Fla.).
The Black and Gold bounced back in the second inning as freshman Farrah Sullivan (Waynesboro, Miss.) hit a one-out double to left center. Sullivan was then lifted for pinch runner Lauren Aldridge (Vero Beach, Fla.) who was advanced to third on a single by senior Vanessa Perez (San Diego, Calif.). Junior Alena Murgatroyd (Lancaster, Calif.) stepped in next and crushed a triple into the right centerfield gap that scored both runners and gave the Knights a 2-1 lead.
In the third inning junior Danielle Brewer (Apopka, Fla.) hit a towering solo home run over the left field wall to give the Knights a 3-1 lead. Brewer is now tied for the team lead with two home runs on the season.
For the second time during the tournament, the Knights allowed a double steal of second and home. The heady base running by the Eagles brought them within a run of the lead in the fifth.
UCF added a crucial insurance run in the bottom of the fifth as Murgatroyd again knocked in Perez with a triple into almost the exact same spot in the right centerfield gap as her triple in the third inning. Murgatroyd was 2-for-3 on the day with two triples and three RBI and she leads the team with a .536 slugging percentage.
Murgatroyd's second triple proved to be the difference maker as the Eagles plated their third run of the game in the seventh inning after two doubles. Eastern Michigan put the tying run on third and the go-ahead run on second with two outs before Audas focused in and finished off the game in style with a strikeout.
The Knights return to action on Tuesday with another matchup against Eastern Michigan at 5 p.m. at the UCF Softball Complex. UCF fans can follow all the action on UCF All-Access with live video and the voice of UCF softball, Eric Lopez. Fans can also follow on UCFAthletics.com Gametracker as well as www.twitter.com/UCF_Softball.
The Black and Gold have 25 home games remaining at the UCF Softball Complex, with season tickets for the 2012 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.