April 20, 2013
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Andrew Jennette
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF softball team (26-23, 7-13 C-USA) has relied on aggressive base running and strong starting pitching to win games all season long. Saturday was no exception as the Knights used speed and strikeouts to earn a doubleheader sweep of Southern Miss (11-37, 1-15). UCF took game one, 3-2, in walk-off fashion in eight innings before coming back for a 2-0 victory in game two at the UCF Softball Complex.
Fans can also follow the action for tomorrow's final home game and Senior Day celebration 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: UCF 3, Southern Miss 2 (Eight innings) - Box Score
Sophomore Maddy Schroeder had a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Knights past the Golden Eagles, 3-2. Schroeder has been a steady presence at the top of the UCF lineup as well as in centerfield as she is the only Knight to play in all 49 games thus far this season. The Jacksonville native went 2-for-3 with a run scored, two RBI and her 18th stolen base of the year.
When head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie moved sophomore Kahley Novak down in the order earlier this season, she hoped Novak could become a second leadoff hitter for the Knights out of the nine spot. Novak did just that in game one as she went 2-for-3 with her conference-leading 29th stolen base. The Clermont native scored both of her runs on hits off the bat of Schroeder.
Freshman Shelby Turnier had a strong performance as she allowed just four hits and two runs over the full eight innings of work. Turnier tied her career-high with nine strikeouts and improved her overall numbers to 13-7 with a 2.47 ERA in rookie season.
Game Two: UCF 2, Southern Miss 0 - Box Score
Sophomore Mackenzie Audas twirled her fourth shutout of the season after allowing just three hits and three walks over seven innings. The Plant City native struck out six and is now just two K's away from reaching the 200 strikeout mark for the second-consecutive season. Audas retired 13 Southern Miss hitters in a row from third to seventh innings before giving up a double in the top of the seventh.
Novak put the Knights on the board first with an RBI single through the right side in the top of the second. The young middle infielder extended her season-best hitting streak to five games and has increased her batting average 25 points during that timeframe.
UCF added an insurance run in the top of the third after sophomore Farrah Sullivan led off the frame with a single. The Waynesboro, Mississippi native was 2-for-3 in game two and is now hitting .278 on the year. After senior pinch runner Lauren Aldridge stole second and advanced to third on an error, freshman Mariah Garcia grounded into a 4-3 double play that allowed Aldridge to scamper home.