March 3, 2015
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Megan Herboth
UCFKnights.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - Trailing 6-5 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, sophomore Brittany Solis hit a three-run home run to lift No. 15 UCF to an 8-6 walk-off win over Maryland at the UCF Softball Complex on Tuesday afternoon.
"I didn't know it was out (of the park) until I reached first base," Solis said. "Just seeing my teammates at home plate made it even better."
The game between No. 15 UCF (15-3) and Maryland (12-8) was a late addition to the schedule, but the Knights had one of their best offensive games of the season in the win. Senior Maddy Schroeder sparked UCF in the bottom of the third with the first home run of her career.
"It was a very surreal feeling," Schroeder said. "I really didn't feel it come off the bat, so I must have hit it in the sweet spot. I was hauling my butt around base because I didn't think it was going to go over. When I finally saw it go over, it was just an amazing, incredible feeling."
Maryland used a two-out single up the middle to start a rally in the top of the fifth inning. Sarah Calta singled to third base to put a pair of runners on for Lindsey Schmeiser, who homered to center field and gave the Terrapins a 3-1 lead. Hannah Dewey's bunt put a runner on for Corey Schwartz, who hit a two-run blast and gave Maryland a 5-1 lead.
UCF used back-to-back singles from sophomore Willow Kalinen and Schroeder to put a pair of runners on in the bottom of the inning, but they were left on second and third as a ground out ended the inning.
Junior Jamie Ujvari struck out three batters, leaving two runners stranded in the top of the sixth, bringing up junior Kayln Cenal, who singled to lead off the bottom of the inning. Freshman Courtney Rotton came to the plate with two on the bases after junior Jessica Ujvari walked. Rotton's single allowed sophomore pinch runner Andrea Neswiacheny to score. Senior Farrah Sullivan's single to left field scored Rotton and freshman pinch runner Megan Greenwell, pulling UCF within a run, 5-4.
The Terrapins added a run in the top of the seventh on an RBI single from Erin Pronobis, extending their lead to 6-4. Junior Shelby Turnier relieved Ja. Ujvari, retiring the final Maryland batters on a strikeout and a flyout.
The UCF rally in the seventh started with a solo home run from Cenal, her fourth homer of the season. A fielding error and a walk put a pair of runners on with two outs for Solis, whose first home run of the season was the game-winner.
UCF Softball, which is presented by City Kia of Greater Orlando, is back at the UCF Softball Complex for the UCF Knights Invitational March 6-8. The Knights open against Kent State at 3 p.m. on March 6.