April 6, 2013
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Andrew Jennette
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) -Powered by a no-hitter from sophomore Mackenzie Audas, the UCF softball team (20-21, 3-11 C-USA) put themselves into position to play in the postseason with a doubleheader sweep of UTEP (12-21, 1-9 C-USA). UCF took game one, 8-0, in five innings before coming back for a 3-2 walk-off victory in game two at the UCF Softball Complex.
Game One: UCF 8, UTEP 0 (Five innings) - Box Score
Audas was nearly flawless as she did not allow a hit over five innings of work. The Plant City native walked just two while striking out eight for her second-career no hitter. The stellar performance was the first no-no thrown by the Knights' pitching staff this year and also the first for the program since Audas accomplished the feat on May 3, 2012 at Bethune-Cookman.
Freshman Mariah Garcia got things started quickly for the Knights as she hit a towering home run over the scoreboard in right centerfield in the top of the first inning. The blast, which was one of the longest home runs ever hit by a left-handed batter at the complex, was Garcia's fourth of the season, a team high. The Houston native also walked twice and came around to score a career-high three runs.
Freshman Kalyn Cenal caught both games of the doubleheader for the first time in her career and picked up a career-high three RBI after a two-run single in the bottom of the third and a sacrifice fly in the fifth. With the Knights just a run from earning a mercy-rule victory, freshman Kirsten Foster ended the game early with an RBI single to left. Foster, making her third-consecutive start at second base, went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Game Two: UCF 3, UTEP 2 - Box Score
Sophomore Farrah Sullivan came up with a clutch hit as her RBI single lifted the Knights to a big walk-off victory in game two. After sophomore Maddy Schroeder reached on an infield single in the bottom of the seventh, she was moved into scoring position on a groundout by Garcia. That set the stage for Sullivan's heroics as she dropped a perfectly-placed base hit into the right-centerfield gap to plate Schroeder and give the Knights the 3-2 victory.
Audas earned her second victory of the day as she three innings of one-hit relief of freshman Shelby Turnier. The Palm Beach Gardens native got the start and went four innings while allowing five hits and two runs with three walks. Turnier racked up six strikeouts on the afternoon, the most for her in a game since she had nine on February 16 against Florida A&M.
Freshman Taylor Wagner had a strong day as she picked up hits in both contests en route to a 2-for-4 day overall at the plate. Wagner is hitting a team-high .350 and has recorded a hit in every game since being inserted as the starting left fielder.
The Knights return to action tomorrow for the series finale against the Miners. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. and it is Pink Day at the ball park.
The Black and Gold have four 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) UCF-1000.