Feb. 15, 2015
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Megan Herboth
UCFKnights.com
CLERMONT, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - Freshman Courtney Rotton's first collegiate hit was a three-run homer that gave the UCF softball team a 4-0 win over No. 13 Minnesota on Sunday afternoon at the Dot Richardson National Collegiate Softball Invitational in Clermont. The Knights improve to 8-0, the best start in school history.
"I just went after it, like it was my kind of pitch," Rotton said. "I was excited that I got the opportunity to be able to go in and pinch hit to be able to help my team out."
In her third complete-game shutout, junior Shelby Turnier picked up her second win over a ranked opponent this weekend, striking out two of Minnesota's first three batters to keep the Gophers scoreless. She recorded a season-best 12 strikeouts in her fourth win of the season, allowing just four hits and two walks.
"I am so proud of this team," UCF head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said. "Shelby was absolutely solid for us the entire weekend. It was great to see Jessica Ujvari and Courtney Rotton hit their first home runs of the season. This team stayed up all weekend and it really showed."
The Knights had early chances, as sophomore Willow Kalinen notched the first UCF hit of the game with a single to center field, but were unable to plate a run until the third inning. Junior Jessica Ujvari hit her first home run of the season to give the Knights a 1-0.
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, senior Farrah Sullivan reached on a Minnesota fielding error and sophomore Brittany Solis put runners on second and third with a double to center field. Rotton, a Clermont native, was inserted into the lineup as a pinch hitter, and sent a 2-0 pitch over the center field wall to break the game open.
Turnier and the UCF defense limited the Gophers to just two hits in the last three innings and handed Minnesota to its first loss of the season.
UCF Softball, which is presented by City Kia, makes its longest trip of the season as the Knights head to Honolulu, Hawaii for the Bank of Hawaii Invitational Feb. 20-22. The Knights open against No. 15 Washington.