April 29, 2016
Final Stats
UCF - No. 18 USF Game 1 stats
UCF at USF (04/29/16) - Images by UCF Knights
TAMPA, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - Scoring nine runs in the seventh inning, the UCF softball team won the series opener over No. 18 USF, 9-0, at the USF Softball Stadium.
The hitters were having good at-bats, seeing good pitches, knowing what they were looking for, head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said. Hitting is contagious. (Jessica) gets that hit and everybody wants to be part of it.
UCF (32-17, 9-2 The American) secured its second win over a ranked opponent this season. USF is ranked No. 18 in the ESPN/USA Softball poll, and comes in at No. 22 in the NFCA poll.
Senior Shelby Turnier earned her 16th win of the season, allowing just four hits without issuing a walk in a complete-game effort.
Nine Knights scored in the contest, with five recording a hit in the game. Junior Linnea Goodman and freshman Cassady Brewer each had a pair of hits for UCF, while senior Jessica Ujvari joined them with two RBI apiece.
Seventh-Inning Surge
* Sophomore Courtney Rotton opened the seventh inning with a four-pitch walk to give the Knights their first base runner since the third inning.
* Senior Jessica Ujvari put the Knights on the board with a two-run homer to center field.
* The Knights loaded the bases three times in the inning, using four hits, four walks, a hit-by-pitch and a passed ball to break the game wide open.
Dynamic Defense
* Senior Shelby Turnier posted her 22nd career shutout while earning her 75th win as a Knight.
* Turnier allowed just four hits while fanning three Bulls in the complete-game victory. She tossed all seven innings without issuing a walk.
* The UCF defense allowed a USF base runner in just three innings of the game. The Knights retired the Bulls in order four times.
* Junior Linnea Goodman turned a double play in the bottom of the sixth. The Long Beach, Calif., native caught a line drive in left field and making the throw to first to catch the runner, sparking the Knights' seventh-inning rally.
Next up
UCF continues American Athletic Conference action on Saturday with a 4 p.m. contest at the USF Softball Stadium. The series finale will air on ESPNU at 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Story by Megan Herboth; Photos by Nate Blythe