April 24, 2016
Final Stats
UCF - Memphis Game 3 Stats
UCF vs. Memphis - Game 3 (4/24/16) - Images by UCF Knights
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF softball team jumped out to an early lead on Memphis and never looked back. The Knights topped the Tigers 8-1 in American Athletic Conference action at the UCF Softball Complex on Sunday.
"The energy level today was a lot better than it was in the first two days of this series," head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said. "We had a lot more energy in the infield and outfield, making the plays that we needed to make. The team did a great job today."
UCF (31-16, 8-2 The American) recorded 13 hits in the game, with seven different Knights recording a hit in the game. Five Knights posted a multi-hit game, led by senior Kalyn Cenal's 2-for-2 performance at the plate. Senior Shelby Turnier allowed just three hits over six innings, and fanned seven Memphis batters in her 15th win of the season.
Securing the Series
? Shelby Turnier set the tone for the Knights by striking out the side to open the game. The UCF bats were inspired in the bottom half of the inning and the Black and Gold jumped out to an early 3-0 lead.
? Junior Linnea Goodman tripled for the third time this season in the bottom of the second, and scored easily on a sacrifice fly from junior Brittany Solis to push the UCF advantage to 4-0.
? Memphis plated a run in the top of the fifth, but the Knights responded with two addition runs in the bottom of the inning. Senior Samantha McCloskey doubled to score freshman pinch runner Tiffany Lower, and Kalyn Cenal's sacrifice fly scored freshman Cassady Brewer to extend the lead to 6-1.
? Back-to-back singles from Solis and sophomore Courtney Rotton gave the Knights runners in the bottom of the sixth. Brewer scored the pair on a double to center field, making it an 8-1 ball game and securing the series win for the home team.
Celebrating Cenal
? Kalyn Cenal turned in an outstanding performance for the Knights against the Tigers. On Sunday, she went 2-for-2 with three RBI.
? The Tampa, Fla., native drove in the 100th and 101st runs of her career with a single down the left field line in the bottom of the first to give the Knights a 3-0 lead.
? Cenal added a third RBI on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth, tying her with Hillary Barrow for the UCF Softball career record for sacrifice flies.
? The senior first baseman hit .714 on the weekend. She knocked five hits with a sacrifice fly and sacrifice bunt. Cenal turned in a perfect fielding performance with 18 putouts.
Cenal on her performance: "I was basically just focusing on slowing the ball down, recognizing the pitch that I wanted and driving it. Keeping it simple. I was doing anything I needed to do get runs on the board."
Next up
UCF heads to Tallahassee to face No. 7/8 Florida State in a single midweek game. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. on Tuesday. The Knights return to American Athletic Conference action on Friday, making the trip to Tampa to take on No. 20/23 USF.
Story by Megan Herboth; Video by Christopher Losada; Photos by Brad Helton