March 7, 2015
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Megan Herboth
UCFKnights.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The No. 15 UCF softball team used seven hits and a pair of multi-run innings to defeat Kent State 5-1 in front of a season-best crowd of 363 at the UCF Knights Invitational at the UCF Softball Complex on Saturday.
"(The team) came out with that kind of intensity today," UCF head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said. "They wanted to be focused. They had better at-bats today; they were making good decisions."
Junior Shelby Turnier opened with three consecutive strikeouts to set the tone for the game. She picked up her ninth win in the circle this season, allowing one run with eight strikeouts in the complete-game effort.
"I think we came out with a different energy today," Turnier said. "A different hunger. You could see it in our warm up, in the way we played today, in our attitude. I think that was the difference between yesterday and today's game."
UCF (17-4)had a slow start, but began to gain momentum in the third innings. Sophomore Willow Kalinen drew a leadoff walk and junior Jessica Ujvari's hard hit put a pair of runners on for the Knights. A sacrifice bunt from senior Maddy Schroeder advanced the runners and an RBI single from sophomore Linnea Goodman gave UCF the 1-0 lead.
Senior Kahley Novak followed Goodman's single with a hard hit back to first base that allowed sophomore pinch runner Andrea Neswiacheny to score and the Knights to take a 2-0 lead.
Junior Kalyn Cenal hit one into the gap to open the bottom of the fourth. A wild throw from center field rolled by the third baseman, which allowed freshman pinch runner Megan Greenwell to score and extend the UCF lead to 3-0.
Schroeder drew the second of UCF's four walks in the fifth inning. She leapt over the second baseman to advance to second on a ground out and a wild pitch moved her to third base. A walk for Novak put runners on the corners with two outs for the Knights. Novak stole second, and her 16th theft of the season moved her within four of tying the UCF Softball career record.
Freshman Courtney Rotton's hard-hit ball to right field was mishandled, allowing the Clermont, Fla., native to reach second base and Schroeder and Novak to score. After five innings, the Knights led Kent State, 5-0.
A solo home run in the top of the sixth put the Golden Flashes on the scoreboard, but the homer was the only run that UCF defense allowed on the evening.
UCF Softball, which is presented by City Kia of Greater Orlando, closes out the UCF Knights Invitational on Sunday, hosting Michigan State at 2 p.m.