March 18, 2012
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Andrew Jennette
UCFAthletics.com
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (UCFAthletics.com) - Freshman Mackenzie Audas threw her third shutout in four Conference USA starts on Sunday to lead the UCF softball team past Southern Miss 3-0. The Knights won two of three games in the series.
The visiting Knights (21-10, 3-3 in C-USA) and Golden Eagles (10-14, 2-4 in C-USA) were locked in a scoreless tie through four innings before the Knights broke through and took a 1-0 lead in the fifth. UCF added single runs in the sixth and seventh.
For the second consecutive day, Audas was dominant. Audas, who threw a three-hit shutout in game one on Saturday, tossed her fourth shutout of the season on Sunday. She struck out 10 while allowing only four hits and one walk. For the series, Audas pitched 14 innings and allowed just seven hits and zero runs while striking out 19.
Audas is quickly moving up UCF's single-season and career record books just halfway through her freshman season. Audas' 1.30 ERA would be the fifth-best single-season mark in school history. Her 112 strikeouts place her seventh on the all-time school record for a career.
Senior Natalie Land continued her impressive run as the Knights' leadoff hitter. Land went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored on Sunday. In 16 games out of the leadoff spot, Land is hitting .426 and has hit safely in 15 of those 16 contests. Land also has 10 of her team-leading 18 stolen bases since being moved to the top of the order.
UCF did not have a hit or a base runner until the fifth inning when a clutch two-out RBI single by junior Danielle Brewer scored freshman Hayley Barrow, who had reached on an error.
The Knights tacked on an insurance run in the sixth when Land doubled, advanced to third on a sacrifice fly and scored on a throwing error. Land finished off her strong performance by hitting an RBI single in the seventh inning that scored freshman Madeline Schroeder. Schroeder had used her speed to beat out an infield single and then stole second to move into scoring position.
UCF returns to action Wednesday at home against Kent State in a non-conference matchup. First pitch is scheduled for 7p.m. at the UCF Softball Complex
Upcoming home games include an April 11 contest against in-state rival Florida. Season tickets are now $25 and are available online at UCFAthletics.com and Ticketmaster.com or by calling the UCF Athletics Ticket Office at (407) 823-1000.
UCF fans can follow all of the action on UCF All-Access with live video and audio. Fans also can follow UCFAthletics.com's Gametracker as well as www.twitter.com/UCF_Softball.