March 14, 2015
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Megan Herboth
UCFKnights.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - In a weekend of milestones, No. 20 UCF Softball added another one to its resume on Saturday night. The Knights won the 500th game in program history after sweeping a doubleheader with Butler and UIC. UCF (26-4) opened the evening with a 5-1 win over the Bulldogs before using a late rally to earn a 2-1 victory over the Flames.
"Having so many benchmarks, from the stolen bases record and strikeouts record to the 500 wins, in the same season with this group of girls is really a blessing," said UCF head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie, who started the program in 2002. "They've set such high goals for this season and it's really special to be a part of it."
The Knights wasted little time in their first game of the day. After senior Kahley Novak reached on a single, she put herself in scoring position by stealing second base. Senior Farrah Sullivan's double to right center allowed Novak to score and put UCF up 1-0 after one inning of play.
With two outs in the bottom of the third, sophomore Linnea Goodman began a rally with a single to the shortstop. Novak followed with a single to second base. Sullivan added another RBI to her name as her single up the middle allowed Goodman to score and extended UCF's lead to 2-0.
Butler cut the lead in half with a solo home run from Riley Carter in the top of the sixth. After five complete innings, the Knights led the Bulldogs 2-1.
After Sullivan was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the sixth, she came around to score on junior Jessica Ujvari's RBI triple. Junior Kalyn Cenal's sacrifice fly scored junior pinch runner Kirsten Foster, giving UCF a 4-1 lead. Sophomore Brittany Solis' double to left field scored freshman pinch runner Megan Greenwell and pushed the Black and Gold advantage to 5-1.
The Bulldogs used a leadoff single and a walk to put two runners on with no outs in the top of the seventh. A pop up and a strikeout moved UCF within one out of its 25th win of the season. Butler left runners on second and third as a groundout ended the game.
Not one of the UCF batters struck out in the game, while the Knights assembled their sixth game of the season with double digit hits.
Junior Shelby Turnier tossed a three-hit complete-game and struck out seven batters on the day.
Game 2: UCF 2, UIC 1
The UCF bats were active early in the nightcap against UIC, but neither team was able to put runs on the board until the sixth inning. The Flames struck first, as a fielding error followed a leadoff single to put Taylor Cairns in scoring position. A hard hit down the left field line pushed Cairns across and gave UIC a 1-0 lead.
The Knights responded in the bottom of the inning as Kalyn Cenal and Samantha McCloskey drew back-to-back walks. Brittany Solis moved the runners over with a single through the left side. With two on and two outs, senior Maddy Schroeder's single allowed both runners to score and gave the Black and Gold a 2-1 advantage.
The Flames were retired in order in the top of the seventh, as the game fittingly ended with a Shelby Turnier strikeout.
Senior Mackenzie Audas posted her eighth game of the season with 10 or more strikeouts as she fanned 11 in 5.1 innings of work against UIC. Turnier (12-4) collected the win, allowing just one hit in 1.2 innings of work.
UCF Softball, which is presented by City Kia of Greater Orlando, faces James Madison in the final game of the weekend on Sunday. The teams are slated for a 1:30 p.m. start at the UCF Softball Complex.