(Note: Sunday's game vs. Mercer has been moved to 11:30 a.m. due to the threat of inclement weather.)
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – UCF played a pair of one-run games on Saturday and picked up a 3-2 victory against Mercer in the night cap. The Knights took a 5-4 lead on No. 16 Georgia in the sixth inning, but the Bulldogs bounced back with a pair of runs in the seventh to down the home team, 6-5, at the UCF Softball Complex.
"The main thing is to be relaxed and play relaxed," head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said. "We got really tight yesterday and tried to do too much at times. This is a game about being child-like, because it is just a game. You need to have fun out there and play the position that you have played your whole life. We did a good job of relaxing today and enjoying being out there, playing for each other."
Sophomore Cassady Brewer went 3-for-4 with a home run against Georgia (23-3) and an RBI double that put the Knights up 2-1 vs. Mercer (12-13). A shot down the right field line by senior centerfielder Willow Kalinen, who scored the go-head run against the Bulldogs, drove in the game-winning run vs. the Bears with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
"[Kamryn Toney] threw a great game and had a no-hitter going into the sixth inning," head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said. "We unfortunately made a lot of mistakes behind her, but we did a good job with our bats to make up for it."
Freshman Kamryn Toney (4-1) finished with five strikeouts and did not give up an earned run in the complete-game victory against Mercer.
Battle with the Bulldogs
- Facing a 3-0 deficit, sophomore first baseman Cassady Brewer sparked the Knights' offense with a two-run homer to the right of center. It was the third-career round tripper for the Apopka, Fla., native and the first at the UCF Softball Complex.
- The Knights knotted the contest on a productive groundout by junior centerfielder Megan Greenwell after freshman catcher Autumn Gillespie started the third frame with a single up the middle.
- The Bulldogs took a 4-3 advantage in the top of the six inning, but UCF responded with a pair of runs of its own.
- Junior second baseman Courtney Rotton delivered an RBI double to right center, driving home freshman centerfielder Megan Greenwell, who began the frame with a single.
- A wild pitch allowed senior pinch runner Willow Kalinen to cross the plate and put the Knights on top, 5-4.
- Georgia tied the game up with an sac fly from Lacey Sumerlin and a solo homer with two outs by Maeve McGuire proved to be the difference.
- Freshman Alea White (6-6) settled down after yielding three runs in the first inning and tallied one strikeout over seven frames.
"The first game against Georgia was a fun game to play – going back and forth. Both pitchers did a great job. Hitting-wise, we were not getting the key hits that we were hoping to get, but we stayed in the game and did the little things right."
-Head coach Renee Luers-Gilleispie
"We are maturing after every loss. We are trying to do the little things right and have the confidence that we can beat anyone. It is really exciting to watch us get close and have our opportunities. We are not getting down on ourselves if we don't get it done, because we know the next inning that we are going to do it. We know that whoever we face; we can produce runs off them."
-Sophomore C/1B Cassady Brewer
#PlayGold Defense
- To end the first frame, freshman third baseman Tamesha Glover started a double play on a bunt attempt with a throw to first base. The ball was then thrown to freshman catcher Autumn Gillespie, who applied the tag at the plate.
- Junior second baseman Courtney Rotton made a diving stop in the fourth that kept it 3-3 and saved a run to end the inning.
- The Knights turned their second double play against the Bulldogs in the sixth inning on a liner caught by senior shortstop Brittany Solis, who threw to Rotton at second for the force out.
- Shortstop Solis jumped up and caught a liner in the first inning against the Bears to conclude the frame.
Next Up
The Knights finish the three-day UCF Wilson/Demarini Tournament on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. Mercer at the UCF Softball Complex.
Season tickets for the 2017 campaign start at $50 for adults and $25 for youth (ages 2-17). For more information about season and individual game tickets, click here.
Watch Our Home Games
Fans can watch each UCF softball home game via a subscription to UCFKnights.TV. Monthly subscriptions of $7.99 include the ability to watch contests on desktop, mobile, Roku and AppleTV devices.
Get the App
Never miss any UCF Knights news from your favorite team by downloading the free UCF Knights app right to your iOS or Android phone! The app provides personalized information for men's and women's teams, scores, schedules, loyalty programs and even breaking news.