March 15, 2015
="" alt="Twitter Logo" border="0" class="imported"> 
="" alt="Facebook Logo" border="0" class="imported"> UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Megan Herboth
UCFKnights.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - Junior Samantha McCloskey provided a brief lead for No. 20 UCF Softball with a solo home run in the fifth inning, but James Madison used a two-run sixth inning to top the Knights 2-1 in the UCF Spring Fling finale on Sunday.
"James Madison came in and we knew they were going to be tough," UCF head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said. "They're receiving votes in the Top 25. They have two great pitchers on their staff. Pitching and hitting was the difference in the game today."
McCloskey set a UCF Softball single game record in the loss, throwing out three runners at second base in the game.
"I didn't know it was a record," McCloskey said. "It was pretty cool. I saw her out of the corner of my eye and had to throw her out."
After retiring the Dukes in order in the top of the first, the Knights used a base hit from senior Kahley Novak to put a runner on in the bottom of the inning. Senior Farrah Sullivan reached on an error, but James Madison turned a double play to end the inning.
Strong pitching on both sides kept the runs off the scoreboard for four and a half innings. Junior Shelby Turnier (12-5) struck out eight batters in six innings in the circle.
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, McCloskey worked a full count before sending her fifth home run of the season out to the palm trees in left field to give the Knights a 1-0 lead.
James Madison opened the sixth inning with a leadoff single and advanced the pinch runner with a sacrifice bunt. Niki Prince's hit dropped in shallow center field, allowing the tying run to score. A hard single up the middle from Erica Field allowed the go-ahead run to score. The Dukes took a 2-1 lead to the bottom of the inning.
Sophomore Linnea Goodman gave the Knights a base runner in the bottom of the sixth with a single up the middle, but was stranded on first base. The Dukes were retired in order in the top of the seventh, but the Knights were unable to come up with a hit in their final at-bat, falling 2-1.
Kahley Novak and Farrah Sullivan represented UCF on the UCF Spring Fling All-Tournament Team. Novak stole five bases on the weekend and had a .500 batting average. Sullivan collected seven hits, scored five runs and had six RBI while leading the team with a .583 batting average for the weekend.
UCF Softball, which is presented by City Kia of Greater Orlando, is back in action with the American Athletic Conference opener at East Carolina next weekend. The Knights and the Pirates are slated to play a doubleheader on Saturday, followed by a single game on Sunday.