April 10, 2016
Final Stats
UCF vs. Tulsa (4/10/16) - Images by UCF Knights
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) --The UCF softball team completed the weekend sweep of Tulsa with a 3-1 American Athletic Conference win at the UCF Softball Complex on Sunday afternoon.
"We knew that we had to set a statement, realizing that we're back on track," head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said. "You saw today that our pitching staff did a great job. We knew that we had to have these games, at least to be able to take two of the three. It's fortunate that we were able to take three of the three."
UCF (27-14, 4-0 The American) recorded eight hits in the win. Sophomore Courtney Rotton went 2-for-2 with her first home run of the season. Junior Willow Kalinen also went 2-for-2 at the plate.
Junior Manami Calixto collected her seventh win of the season in the circle, coming in to toss 3.2 innings with a pair of strikeouts. Senior Jamie Ujvari earned her fifth save of the 2016 campaign, setting a UCF Softball single season record. She fanned two while allowing just one hit in the final 2.1 innings.
Completed The Sweep
? The Knights swept the regular season series against Tulsa for the first time since 2008.
? UCF has won the series over the Golden Hurricane in back-to-back years for the first time since the 2007 and 2008 campaigns.
? The Knights improved to 4-0 in league play and are the only undefeated team in The American in 2016.
The Odd Ones
? UCF scored three runs on Sunday, and all three came in an odd-numbered inning.
? Tulsa struck first with a run in the first inning, but the Knights responded in the bottom of frame with a run of their own.
? With two outs, Courtney Rotton singled and sped over to third on a base hit from senior Jessica Ujvari. Rotton took advantage of a wild pitch, sliding home to tie the game 1-1.
? The Black and Gold opened the bottom of the third with back-to-back base hits from Willow Kalinen and junior Linnea Goodman. A sacrifice bunt from junior Brittany Solis moved the runners, and Kalinen tagged up on a sacrifice fly from Rotton to give UCF a 2-1 edge.
? With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Rotton worked a 1-1 count before sending the ball over the left field fence. Her first home run of the season scored the final run of the game in UCF's 3-1 win.
Next up
The Knights return to action with a three-game American Athletic Conference series at Houston next weekend. The teams open on Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by a 3 p.m. ET game on Saturday. Sunday's series finale is slated for a 1 p.m. ET start.
Story by Megan Herboth; Video by Troy Kless; Photos by Brad Helton