March 21, 2015
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Megan Herboth
UCFKnights.com
GREENVILLE, N.C. (UCFKnights.com) - Strong pitching and timely offense led No. 20 UCF Softball to a conference-opening doubleheader sweep at East Carolina on Saturday. The Knights won the opening game 2-0 before posting an 8-0 win in game two at ECU Softball Stadium, improving to 28-5 overall and 2-0 in the American Athletic Conference.
"The defense was solid in both games," UCF head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said. "In the second game, you could see the bats coming alive. The girls did a good job with the two pitchers we faced in the second game."
Junior Shelby Turnier earned her 13th win of the season in the circle in the first game, tossing a one-hit complete game. She tied her season-high with 13 strikeouts, recording at least one strikeout every inning.
Sophomore Linnea Goodman opened the game with a single to third base. With two outs, junior Jessica Ujvari drew a walk to put a pair of runners on for freshman Courtney Rotton. Rotton doubled down the left field line, scoring Goodman. A fielding error moved Rotton to third and scored Ujvari to give the Knights a 2-0 lead after the first half-inning.
UCF had an opportunity to extend the lead in the second, after sophomore Brittany Solis led off with a double to right center. The shortstop was left on second base aft the end of the inning.
Senior Maddy Schroeder opened the fifth inning with a single through the left side. The Knights put a pair of runners on after Goodman was hit by a pitch. Senior Kahley Novak's sacrifice bunt advanced the pair, but the Knights were unable to bring them home.
East Carolina broke up Turnier's no-hitter in the bottom of the fifth, but neither team was able to plate a run in the final two innings, giving UCF the 2-0 win.
Game 2: UCF 8, East Carolina 0
The Knights followed a similar pattern top open the second game of the day. After Linnea Goodman reached on an error, she moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Kahley Novak and then stole third. UCF took a 1-0 lead on an RBI double from Jessica Ujvari. A pair of runs scored on an ECU fielding error, giving the Knights a 3-0 lead after the first half-inning.
Both teams scattered hits in the second, third and fourth innings, but neither was able to put runs on the scoreboard until the sixth inning.
Junior Samantha McCloskey almost beat the throw to first to open the sixth inning, and was called safe after the ball was dropped, giving UCF a base runner. Brittany Solis laid down a bunt to put a pair of runners on for the Knights. An ECU throwing error allowed UCF to plate a run and leave a pair on second and third with no outs in the inning.
Novak's RBI single to left field extended the UCF lead to 5-0. Farrah Sullivan's hit bounced over the shortstop, scoring the third run of the inning. A sacrifice fly from Ujvari plated the fourth run of the inning and gave the Black and Gold a 7-0 advantage.
After the Pirates were retired in order in the bottom of the sixth, the Knights went back to work at the plate. Junior Kalyn Cenal opened the seventh inning with a single to right field. McCloskey followed with a single of her own, putting runners on second and third. Solis' sacrifice fly scored freshman pinch runner Megan Greenwell, pushing the UCF lead to 8-0.
East Carolina drew a walk to open the bottom of the seventh, but left the runner stranded at the end of the game.
Senior Mackenzie Audas struck out eight batters and allowing just three hits in six innings of work in the circle.
UCF Softball, which is presented by City Kia of Greater Orlando, concludes the weekend with a single game against East Carolina on Sunday. The Knights and the Pirates are scheduled for an 11 a.m. first pitch at the ECU Softball Stadium.