April 13, 2013
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Andrew Jennette
UCFAthletics.com
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (UCFAthletics.com) - Sophomore Farrah Sullivan hit two home runs as the UCF softball team split a doubleheader against Memphis on Saturday at Tigers Softball Complex. The Knights (23-22, 5-12 C-USA) had the lead during most of game one, but were unable to hold it as the Tigers (28-7-1, 8-0) came-from-behind for a 3-2 victory in game one. UCF jumped out to another lead, this time 7-0, and survived a big Memphis rally to come away with a 7-6 win in the afternoon contest.
Fans can also follow the action for tomorrow's rubber-match on UCF All-Access with Eric Lopez on the call. Others can also follow on UCFAthletics.com's Gametracker as well as www.twitter.com/UCF_Softball.
Game One: Memphis 3, UCF 2 - Box Score
UCF jumped on Memphis early when Sullivan muscled a two-out, solo home run over the wall in left-center in the top of the first inning. The big fly was Sullivan's fourth of the year. The lead remained 1-0 throughout most of the contest as sophomore Mackenzie Audas cruised through the first four innings scoreless before running into trouble late in the fifth.
With two outs, the Tigers broke through with three runs (one earned) on a pair of singles after an error kept the inning alive. Audas finished her outing allowing seven hits and two walks in 4.2 innings of work. The Plant City native struck out six, increasing her season total to 184 in 165.2 innings pitched. Freshman Mackenzie Huhn was tabbed by head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie to relieve Audas in the fifth and she allowed one hit in 1.1 scoreless innings.
UCF tried to spark a comeback of its own in the sixth as sophomore pinch runner Kahley Novak got into scoring position after stealing her conference-leading 26th base of the year. With Novak on second, freshman Taylor Wagner cut the deficit in half by dropping an RBI single into centerfield. The Knights, however, were unable to get any closer as Memphis retired the last four UCF hitters in order.
Game Two: UCF 7, Memphis 6 - Box Score
The Knights scored in each of the first four innings and held a 7-0 advantage through those four frames. None of UCF's eight hits were bigger, however, than Sullivan's two-run homer in the top of the fourth. What seemed like a nice insurance shot at the time ended up being the game-winning hit for the Knights as Memphis staged a furious comeback in the fifth, sixth and seventh frames that came up just shy as the Knights held on 7-6.
The Waynesboro, Mississippi native finished her day going 3-for-7 with two home runs, a double and three RBI. Sullivan now leads the Knights in home runs (5) and RBI (22). Freshman Samantha McCloskey also got into the power act with a leadoff home run to open the fourth. The Detroit native sits third on the team with three home runs.
Freshman Jasmine Acevedo made her first two starts, both as the designated player, since injuring her ankle on March 2nd. Batting cleanup, Acevedo knocked in a pair for the Knights with a sacrifice fly and an RBI double. The Largo native leads the team with a .328 batting average and has a club-best eight doubles.
Freshman Shelby Turnier got the win for the Knights after allowing four earned runs in 4.1 innings pitched to go along with two walks and five strikeouts. Turnier was relieved by Huhn who allowed one unearned run while recording two outs. Audas was tabbed to finish the game and in her second appearance of the day set a new UCF single-season record by recording her fourth save of the year. Audas allowed just one hit and struck out a pair in two innings of work.
The Black and Gold have three home games remaining at the UCF Softball Complex, with single game tickets available for purchase online at UCFAthletics.com and Ticketmaster.com, or by calling the UCF Athletics Ticket Office at 407-823-1000.