Feb. 7, 2015
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Megan Herboth
UCFKnights.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - Junior Samantha McCloskey's two-run walk-off home run capped off an-almost perfect opening weekend for UCF Softball. The Knights opened the day with a 3-0 shutout win over Boston College before collecting a 10-1 win in six innings over George Mason on Saturday at the UCF Softball Complex.
The Knights improved to 4-0 on the season with the sweep and posted a .352 batting average as a team.
UCF-Boston College Box Score
UCF came out swinging in the first game, as senior Kahley Novak put down a leadoff bunt in the bottom of the first. A throwing error put senior Farrah Sullivan on base and a single from junior Jessica Ujvari put runners on the corners with two outs in the inning, but the Knights stranded both runners on the bags.
Sophomore Willow Kalinen and McCloskey opened the second with back-to-back singles before sophomore Brittany Solis tapped an RBI single through the left side. Sophomore Linnea sent a pair of runners home with her first of three hits in the game. The Knights took a 3-0 lead on four hits by the end of the inning.
The Knights had chances to extend the lead in the third and fourth, but could not push the runs across. Senior Mackenzie Audas and the solid UCF defense kept the Eagles off the scoreboard. Audas registered eight strikeouts in the game, bringing her weekend total to 18 strikeouts.
UCF-George Mason Box Score
In the nightcap, the Black and Gold used an eight-run fourth inning to break the game open. Kalinen reached on a fielder's with the bases loaded to push the first run across. Solis followed with an RBI hit to left field to make it a 2-0 game and keep the bases loaded. Sophomore Jasmine Acevedo drew a walk to push the lead to 3-0.
Goodman's hit to left center scored a pair of runs, as did McCloskey's double to center field. The Knights scored eight runs on seven hits in the inning.
George Mason rallied in the fifth inning, opening with a leadoff single. The Patriots collected their second hit of the day with two outs in the inning and a wild throw allowed George Mason to score, cutting UCF's lead to 8-1 going into the bottom of the fifth.
The Knights stranded a runner in the bottom of the inning but returned the favor in the top of the sixth. With Goodman on first base after a leadoff single and two outs, McCloskey homered for the first time this season to give the Knights a 10-1 win in six innings.
UCF Softball, which is presented by City Kia, hits the road for a midweek game at South Carolina on Tuesday. First pitch is slated for 4:00 in Columbia and will be on the SEC Network +.