ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) –After dropping the first two games of the series, UCF bounced back to notch its first win over a Top 25 opponent this season with a 4-2 victory over No. 14 Baylor on Sunday afternoon at the UCF Softball Complex. Sophomore first baseman Cassady Brewer hit a solo homer in the fourth inning to tie the game, 1-1, and capped a three-run frame an inning later with an RBI single.
"We used this weekend with Baylor to give us the chance to see what it feels like to be in a conference series," head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said. "I am really proud with how we just kept fighting back today. We did not have the games that we wanted on Friday and Saturday, but for the players to come back and have this big win was big for us."
The win over a Top 25 program was also the first for freshman pitcher Alea White (8-7). The Land O'Lakes, Fla., native struck out two and allowed one earned run, while scattering eight hits in the complete game.
"Having a big win like this just feels amazing," White said. "We all stepped up, played our game and did not stop fighting."
Bouncing Back
- After Baylor took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth frame, the Knights rallied to bounce back in the bottom-half.
- Freshman Kyra Klarkowski started the inning by drawing a walk before senior Linnea Goodman notched her second of two singles in the contest.
- The bases became loaded on a hit through the left side by junior Megan Greenwell.
- With two outs, freshman third baseman Tamesha Glover delivered a clutch two-run single to put the Knights top, 3-2.
- Brewer drove in an insurance marker with a base knock.
"We have been really good about that this year, bouncing back right after they score and responding. This year when they score, it kind of wakes us up and we realize that we have to score. It is really exciting to see the person that started it was a freshman [Kyra Klarkowski]. For her to come up in that position and start us off is amazing."
-Sophomore 1B Cassady Brewer
"That inning kind of broke the whole game open. For them to go back-to-back like that and have that excitement of being able to hit, knowing that they can get on that pitcher, was huge."
-Head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie
#PlayGold Defense
- The Knights ended the first inning with a double play turned by senior shortstop Brittany Solis, who fielded a ground ball, stepped on second and fired to first base.
- Freshman catcher Autumn Gillespie caught a pair of runners stealing.
- The first runner erased came in the third inning on a throw to second base with the tag applied by Solis.
- Gillespie caught a runner between first and second, which ended up being the second out of the fourth inning following an rundown.
"When you look at our battery with Alea [White] and Autumn [Gillespie] or [Cassady] Brewer, they do a great job of calling the game. They know what to do with the batters. Autumn did a wonderful job behind there today and knew every batter, studied them before she got back there today and made some plays on the base paths to help us."
-Head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie
Next Up
The Knights welcome No. 1 Florida State on Wednesday with the first pitch slated for 5:30 p.m. A standing room only crowd is expected, so please be sure to purchase tickets in advance to guarantee your seats to the matchup.
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.
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