April 12, 2015
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Megan Herboth
UCFKnights.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) -- No. 17 UCF Softball turned in a season-best offensive performance as the Knights defeated Houston 8-2, sweeping the American Athletic Conference series on Sunday at the UCF Softball Complex.
UCF used a season-high 16 hits to improve to 40-6 overall, marking just the second time in program history with back-to-back 40-win campaigns. The Knights improved to 11-1 in the American Athletic Conference with their third sweep of a league opponent.
"It was a great weekend here at UCF," UCF head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said. "Houston coming in is always tough competition for us. Knowing (that), we had to have the best defense; we had to be able to go at them hard defensively. With our hitting, it's been up and down. Even with that first game, we didn't have the hits that we needed, but you saw in the second and third game that the bats just came alive. They had a lot more confidence."
Four Knights tallied multiple hits in the game, while seven of nine batters finished with an RBI. Junior Kalyn Cenal tied the school record with four hits, recording a hit in each at-bat.
The Knights began the day with back-to-back hits in the bottom of the first. After senior Farrah Sullivan's sacrifice bunt advanced both runners, Houston's throw home was off the mark, allowing UCF to take an early 2-0 lead. Junior Samantha McCloksey's double down the right field line allowed sophomore Brittany Solis to score and gave UCF a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second, consecutive hits from sophomore Linnea Goodman and senior Kahley Novak put runners on for Sullivan, who singled up the middle to add to UCF's lead. An RBI single from junior Jessica Ujvari scored Novak, giving the Knights a 5-0 lead after two complete innings.
Houston cut into the Black and Gold advantage in the top of the fifth. After a throwing error and a walk put runners on for the Cougars, Sydney Gerbracht tripled to left center, scoring both runners. Houston pulled within 5-2 heading to the bottom of the inning.
The Knights earned a run back in the bottom of the fifth. Base hits for Cenal and sophomore Willow Kalinen put a pair on for UCF. Goodman's single to left field allowed Cenal to score, making it 6-2.
Two more runs came around to score in the bottom of the sixth, as Cenal's hit landed in the gap, scoring junior pinch runner Kirsten Foster. McCloskey added the final run of the day on senior Maddy Schroeder's single to the shortstop.
In the circle, junior Shelby Turnier (21-5) fanned four in four innings. She allowed just one hit and one walk. Senior Mackenzie Audas earned her second save of the season, striking out four and allowing just one hit.
UCF Softball, which is presented by City Kia of Greater Orlando, continues American Athletic Conference action at Memphis next weekend. The Knights and the Tigers open the three-game series with a doubleheader on April 18, followed by a single game on April 19.