March 29, 2013
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Andrew Jennette
UCFAthletics.com
TULSA, Okla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF softball team came into the weekend looking to challenge the top team in Conference USA and gain some ground in the league standings. The Knights (18-19, 1-9 C-USA), however, were unable to keep pace with No. 18 Tulsa (28-7-1, 8-0) as the Golden Hurricane took game one, 6-2, before coming back with an 8-1 victory in the afternoon contest.
Fans can tune in to Fox Sports Network for tomorrow's nationally-televised series finale with Bruce Howard and Tracy Warren on the call at noon ET. Check your local listings for further details. Fans can also follow the action on UCFAthletics.com's Gametracker as well as www.twitter.com/UCF_Softball.
Game One: Tulsa 6, UCF 2 - Box Score
UCF jumped on Tulsa early when freshman Mariah Garcia blasted the first pitch she saw to deep right for her team-leading third home run in the top of the first inning. Later in the frame, a double by freshman Samantha McCloskey moved freshman pinch runner Taylor Wagner into scoring position. Fellow freshman Kalyn Cenal then put the Knights up 2-0 with a one-out RBI groundout to shortstop.
The advantage stayed 2-0 for the Knights until the fourth inning. Sophomore Mackenzie Audas cruised through the first three innings and got the first two outs of the fourth, but then allowed two singles and a walk to load the bases. Tulsa's Samantha Cobb then stepped in and put the Golden Hurricane up for good with a grand slam to left field. Audas finished the contest allowing seven hits, six runs and a career-high seven walks in six innings of work as her record fell to 7-11. Freshman Shelby Turnier pitched two scoreless innings of one-hit relief for the Knights.
UCF had a great opportunity to get back into the game in the top of the sixth after loading the bases with none out. However, a strikeout and double play ended the Knights' potential rally.
Game Two: Tulsa 8, UCF 1 - Box Score
Tulsa used a five-run second inning to power its way to a lead it would not relinquish. Six-consecutive hits by the Golden Hurricane allowed five earned runs to score. Turnier picked up the loss after allowing nine hits and six earned runs in two innings of work. Freshman Mackenzie Huhn came in relief and gave up five hits and two runs in four innings. The four innings of work was the longest outing of Huhn's young career.
The Knights got on the board in the fourth after a leadoff double by sophomore Farrah Sullivan. Sullivan was then lifted for freshman pinch runner Lindsay Neyland who came around to score on an RBI single by senior Danielle Brewer. Brewer, getting her ninth start of the season at designated player, was 2-for-3 on the day.
The Black and Gold have nine home games remaining at the UCF Softball Complex, with season tickets for the rest of the 2013 season costing only $30. Tickets are available for purchase online at UCFAthletics.com and Ticketmaster.com, or by calling the UCF Athletics Ticket Office at 407-823-1000.