ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – After UCF jumped out to a 4-0 lead after three innings, Houston fought back and scored a pair of runs in the sixth and seventh innings to top the Knights, 5-4, on Sunday afternoon at the UCF Softball Complex.
Freshman Kamryrn Toney started and reentered late in the contest. The Covington, Ga., native totaled five strikeouts over five innings of work, while yielding one earned run. Two frames fo relief were tossed by freshman Damara Begin.
The Cougars took advantage of defensive miscues in the sixth and seven frames to register an unearned run in each inning, which proved to be the difference in the contest.
Going, Going Gone for Gillespie
- The second home run of the season for freshman catcher Autumn Gillespie pushed the Knights lead to 2-0 in the second inning.
- The Redlands, Calif., native's shot was lifted over the fence in left field.
- She also called the game for the Knights, providing guidance for freshmen Kamryn Toney, Damara Begin and Alea White in the circle
- Gillespie also ended the top of the seventh by catching a runner trying to steal third base.
Opportunistic Knights
- UCF took advantage of three walks in the first inning and took an early lead on an RBI groundout by sophomore first baseman Cassady Brewer.
- The Knights loaded the bases in the third frame on a single by Brewer and walks drawn by junior third baseman Courtney Rotton and freshman second baseman Aubrey Johnson.
- A wild pitch on a strikeout and throwing error with two outs enabled UCF to extend its advantage to 4-0.
- Two double plays were tallied by the Knights' defense to end the first and fifth frames. A line drive caught by Johnson at second base led the one in the first inning, while senior shortstop Brittany Solis fielded a groundball, stepped on second and tossed to first base in the fifth.
Next Up
The Knights conclude their 19-game homestand on Wednesday at 5 p.m. vs. North Florida. The contest will serve as the team's Strikeout Cancer day with a number of promotions on tap to bring awareness to cancer research.
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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