March 23, 2016
Final Stats
UCF vs. Georgia Tech (3/23/16) - Images by UCF Knights
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - One run was all the UCF softball team needed on Wednesday evening. The Knights topped Georgia Tech, 1-0, at the UCF Softball Complex.
"There's a lot of good things I saw," head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie. "I thought defensively was probably the highlight of it. I thought our (team) just did a tremendous job defensively. We've got to work on getting our bats going again, but defensively we did a nice job."
UCF improved to 23-13 overall. Sophomore Courtney Rotton went 2-for-3 at the plate, while senior Kalyn Cenal drew the bases-loaded walk to send the game-winning run home. Junior Linnea Goodman, freshman Cassady Brewer and senior Samantha McCloskey each contributed to UCF's five hits.
Junior Manami Calixto earned her sixth win of the season, tossing five innings while allowing just three hits. Senior Jamie Ujvari collected her fourth save of the season, fanning three batters in the final two innings.
All You Need Is One
? The Knights scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the second.
? Senior Jessica Ujvari led off with a walk. Sophomore pinch runner Megan Greenwell stole second, and moved to third on a single up the middle from Cassady Brewer.
? Four balls to Samantha McCloskey loaded the bases with one out in the inning.
? Kalyn Cenal worked a 3-1 count before drawing the bases-loaded walk, sending Brewer home as the game-winning run.
Dominant Defense
? The UCF defense allowed just five Georgia Tech baserunners in the game.
? The Knights retired the Yellow Jackets in order in three of the seven innings, and only allowed a multi-hit inning once.
? The UCF pitching staff combined for five strikeouts. Georgia Tech advanced runners to second and third with just one out in the top of the seventh, but Jamie Ujvari closed the game with back-to-back strikeouts to seal the shutout victory.
Jamie Ujvari on the defense: "The team's defense had a very strong performance. They always do. In my eyes, they're the No. 1 defense in the nation. They really made some big plays."
Next up
The Knights are back in action on March 29, hosting No. 11 Florida State. First pitch is slated for 5:30 p.m. at the UCF Softball Complex.
Story by Megan Herboth; Video by Kevin Craig; Photos by Ryan Tjon Ajong and Simone Amaduzzi