Feb. 25, 2015
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Megan Herboth
UCFKnights.com
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The No. 15 UCF softball team used a late rally, but came up short at No. 1 Florida, 2-1, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium on Wednesday evening.
It was a pitching duel in Gainesville, as junior Shelby Turnier and Florida pitcher Aleshia Ocasio each struck out eight batters. Turnier threw 63 strikes in 110 pitches on the night.
"We knew that it would be a tough game," UCF head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said. "Florida is a tough team, but our girls came out and competed. They proved that they can go out there and play with anybody. Shelby faced some adversity tonight, but she found a way around it. I'm so proud of this team."
Turnier got out of a bases loaded situation in the first inning, after a pair of hit-by-pitches and a walk put runners all around. She lured Nicole DeWitt into a swinging strikeout to end the inning. Florida took its first lead of the game in the bottom of the third as illegal pitches advanced Kirsti Merrit advanced to third and then sent her home for the first run of the night.
In the top of the fourth, senior Kahley Novak gave the Knights their first base runner, reaching on an error, but was caught stealing for just the second time all season, ending the UCF scoring threat. The Gators pushed their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single from Kelsey Stewart.
The UCF bats began to heat up late in the game. Senior Farrah Sullivan hit a hard shot out to center field in the fifth inning, breaking up Ocasio's no-hit bid. After senior Maddy Schroeder reached on an error, sophomore Linnea Goodman notched UCF's second hit of the game to put two runners on with one out in the sixth. Novak laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners, but a fly out ended the inning with the tying run on second base.
After retiring the Gators in order in the bottom of the sixth, UCF went to work. With one out, junior Kalyn Cenal hit her third home run of the season, and the third in the last six games, over the center field wall. The solo shot cut the UCF deficit in half, making it a 2-1 ball game. A ground out and a strikeout ended the game before the Knights could complete the comeback.
UCF Softball, which is presented by City Kia, is back in action on Wednesday, are back at the UCF Softball Complex this weekend, hosting the Wilson DeMarini Invitational. The Knights host Princeton at 4 p.m. and Iowa at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. LIU Brooklyn and Florida A&M will play the Black and Gold on Saturday.