March 6, 2013
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Andrew Jennette
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Defensive mistakes proved costly for the UCF softball team as it was defeated 11-2 in five innings by No. 14 Michigan on Wednesday at the UCF Softball Complex. The Knights (14-9) made four errors in the first three innings that allowed a tough Wolverines' (15-5) offense to capitalize on the additional chances at the plate.
Freshman Mariah Garcia tried to keep the Knights close as she put a big charge into a pitch in the second inning for her second home run of the season. The Houston native has busted out of an early-season slump as she is hitting .300 with five RBI and five runs scored in her last eight contests. Sophomore Maddy Schroeder added an RBI single in the third. Schroeder has been a rock in the UCF lineup as she has started every game this season. The Jacksonville native continues to see the ball well as she is hitting a team-high .367.
Sophomore Mackenzie Audas allowed six hits and nine runs (seven earned) in 2.2 innings of work as she was tagged with her fifth loss of the season. The Plant City native also issued five walks while striking out one. Freshman Shelby Turnier relieved Audas and allowed five hits and two runs in 2.1 innings. Turnier recorded two strikeouts in the game, both of the looking variety.
Freshman Taylor Wagner made one of the top defensive plays of the season for the Knights with a tremendous full-extension diving catch in deep left to save two runs in the fifth. The Lakeland native made her first appearance in the outfield since the season-opening weekend in Las Vegas and showed off impressive range tracking down the fly out.
The Knights' game scheduled for 3 p.m. against Boston College was cancelled due to travel complications with the Eagles. The game will not be made up this season.
UCF returns to action this weekend as Conference USA play begins. The Knights will take on UAB in a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday's rubber match will be televised nationally on Fox Sports Networks at 11:30 a.m.
The Black and Gold have 15 home games remaining at the UCF Softball Complex, with season tickets for the 2013 season costing only $30. Single game and season tickets are available for purchase online at UCFAthletics.com and Ticketmaster.com, or by calling the UCF Athletics Ticket Office at (407) UCF-1000.