UCF Softball Honors its Four Seniors on Senior Day

April 21, 2013

Final Stats

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By Andrew Jennette
UCFAthletics.com

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ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF softball team celebrated Senior Day by honoring Lauren Aldridge, Hailey Barraco, Danielle Brewer and Alex Hartshorn for all their hard work and dedication to the program throughout their careers. However, the Knights' (26-24, 7-14 Conference USA) comeback efforts fell just short as they were edged, 3-2, by Southern Miss (12-37, 2-15) in the final home game of the 2013 season.

Trailing 1-0, the Knights tied the game on an RBI groundout by freshman Mariah Garcia. The RBI was Garcia's 13th of the year and plated sophomore Maddy Schroeder, who led off the game with a walk. Schroeder was moved into scoring position on a single by freshman Taylor Wagner. Wagner has hit safely in 10 of 11 games since being inserted into the starting lineup full-time

The Knights attempted to make a comeback in the top of the sixth. After back-to-back singles by freshman Samantha McCloskey and Aldridge put two on, a controversial call helped stem the tide back in Southern Miss' favor. UCF tabbed freshman Jasmine Acevedo, the team's leading hitter, to pinch hit with two on, but the home plate umpire said the Knights did not officially check Acevedo into the game. The Largo native was ruled out and ejected from the contest on an illegal substitution. UCF did plate a run later in the frame on a single by Schroeder to make it 3-2, but we unable to come up with any additional runs to tie.

Sophomore Mackenzie Audas picked up the loss after allowing five hits and two earned runs in 3.1 innings of work. The Plant City native struck out six and became the third pitcher this season in C-USA to top 200 strikeouts. Freshman Shelby Turnier pitched 3.2 innings of one-hit relief of Audas. The Palm Beach Gardens native struck out three and lowered her season ERA to 2.40.

The Black and Gold will have the next 12 days off before concluding the 2013 regular season with a three-game series against East Carolina beginning on Saturday May 4.