Feb. 28, 2012
Read John Denton's Knights Insider | Follow us on Twitter | Get social with the Knights on Facebook
By Andrew Jennette
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF softball team battled back twice from four-run deficits to earn a wild 8-6 victory over Eastern Michigan Tuesday at the UCF softball complex.
Junior Alex Hartshorn (Tampa, Fla.) retired 11 consecutive hitters in a dominant relief outing to earn her second win of the season. Hartshorn pitched five scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and no walks while striking out five Eagles.
Head coach Renee-Luers Gillispie was impressed by her No. 3 starter's performance. The transfer from Hillsborough CC lowered her season ERA to 3.50.
"We already knew we had a good one-two punch in the rotation with Mackenzie (Audas) and Ali (Schmidt)," Gillispie said. "But having Alex come out and pitch as well as she did tonight really gives her and the rest of the team the confidence that we'll be able to attack teams with three different looks when we get into conference play and have to play the same team three times in a row."
Seeking a spark at the top of the lineup, Gillispie adjusted her batting order for the first time this season. Hitting leadoff for the first time, senior Natalie Land (Mayo, Fla.) responded with her best game of the season as she went 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Land consistently reached base, setting the tone for the rest of the Knights lineup.
Junior Marissa Menendez (Tampa, Fla.) knocked in the first two runs of the game for the Knights with a two-run double into the left-centerfield gap. Menendez has been the Knights' most consistent hitter from the cleanup spot, as she is hitting a team-best .347 on the season with four doubles.
Trailing 6-2, the Black and Gold took the lead for good in the bottom of the second as they scored five runs on just one hit. Junior Alena Murgatroyd (Lancaster, Calif.) drew a four-pitch walk to open the inning. From there, freshman Madeline Schroeder (Jacksonville, Fla.) reached on an error and Land singled to load the bases. The Knights plated the first two of their five runs in the inning on fielder's choices; runners hustled down the third-base line to beat throws to the plate.
Junior Danielle Brewer (Apopka, Fla.) was hit by a pitch during the inning with the bases loaded to earn an RBI. The Knights finally took the lead they would never relinquish after an error by the Eagles allowed the tying and go-ahead runs to score.
The Knights return to action this weekend beginning on Friday with the UCF Spring Fling Tournament presented by Holiday Inn Select 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 24 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.