Feb. 14, 2015
Senior Farrah Sullivan doubled and scored the winning run over No. 18 Missouri.
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Megan Herboth
UCFKnights.com
CLERMONT, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - Strong defense and timely hits led the UCF softball team to a 1-0 walk-off upset win over No. 18 Missouri Saturday afternoon at the Dot Richardson National Collegiate Softball Invitational in Clermont.
"It was a fantastic win," UCF head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said. "The game was tough all the way through. We knew Missouri was going to be a tough opponent for us, but (our team) was just relaxed."
Junior Shelby Turnier tossed her second complete game shutout of the season. She struck out nine batters and had a no-hitter broken up with one hit in the seventh inning.
With one out in the seventh, senior Farrah Sullivan hit a standing double to center field. Sophomore Brittany Solis followed with a single up the middle, which was mishandled by the center fielder. Sullivan beat the throw home to give UCF the 1-0 win.
"Coach told me to stop, and then all of a sudden she said (Missouri) bobbled it," Sullivan said. "I don't even know if she told me to go, but when she said `bobble,' I took off. I knew Shelby had pitched a great game and I was going to take a chance."
The Knights had early chances to take a lead, as UCF put a pair of runners on in the first inning, but Missouri kept the Black and Gold off the scoreboard. In the fourth, junior Samantha McCloskey walked and sophomore Willow Kalinen notched the first UCF hit of the game to put runners on first and second, but a pop-up to second base ended the inning before the Knights could score.
Sophomore Linnea Goodman extended her hitting streak to six games with a single down the left field line in the sixth inning. McCloskey drew a game-high two walks in the first meeting between the Knights and the Tigers.
UCF Softball is presented by City Kia. The Knights look to earn their third straight win over an SEC opponent as they face Arkansas tonight at 6:30 p.m.