ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - With both teams putting up crooked numbers on the scoreboard, UCF used a ball put in play by freshman catcher Autumn Gillespie to notch a walk-off 11-10 eight inning victory over Providence Friday. Senior left fielder Linnea Goodman tied the program record with four hits for the second time in her career, while driving in three runs and crossing the plate three times at the UCF Softball Complex.
A 2-for-3 performance with three RBI was tallied by senior shortstop Brittany Solis. Two hits each were also notched by junior designated player Courtney Rotton and freshman third baseman Tamesha Glover.
"I can't remember the last game that we had like this where we are having to answer back every inning," head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said. "To see us battle back and step up when we needed to was very good and educational. I loved what we did in this game, because we were able to answer back. There were some mistakes that were made defensively, but our players answered with their bats and that is all we can ask."
The Knights held a 4-1 lead after three innings before the Friars went on top 5-4 by taking advantage of a three walks and a two-out mistake. UCF responded with a four-run fourth and tacked on two more runs an inning later to stretch its lead to 10-5.
That big frame was started by senor right fielder Willow Kalinen, notching a triple down the right field line. A run-scoring single and double was tallied by Goodman and Rotton before Solis capped the frame with a two-run double into the left centerfield gap.
The back and forth action did not stop. Providence recorded a five-run sixth inning to tie the contest, 10-10, and took advantage of a defensive miscue by the Knights that extended the frame.
"We struggled a little bit on defense, but our offense was able to answer back every time that they scored," Goodman said. "Our offense really picked us up this game. We going to try to keep that going the rest of the weekend."
The Knights had their opportunities to win the game in regulation by loading the bases in the sixth inning on a pair of walks and double by freshman Aubrey Johnson and starting the seventh frame with singles by freshman third baseman Tamesha Glover and Goodman. Both times UCF was unable to break the deadlock.
The win in the circle was notched by freshman Alea White (4-4), who tossed 2.1 innings of relief and fanned three Friars. The Land O'Lakes, Fla., native used a foul out and strikeout to keep the Friars off the board in the eighth inning with a runner placed on second base.
The game-winning run was manufactured by UCF in the bottom-half of the frame. A sac bunt by Johnson moved Solis, the runner placed on second, to third before junior centerfielder Megan Greenwell beat out an infield base hit. Gillespie came through by putting the ball in play and reaching on an error to secure the victory.
"Every game, we are seeing the progression of this team," Gillispie added. "They are able to get tougher with two outs. It is still early, but we are seeing them making some good adjustments and being able to be that tough out with two outs in any inning now."
Next Up
The Knights continue the UCF Invitational on Saturday by taking on Florida Gulf Coast at 5 p.m. The three-day event wraps up for the Black and Gold at 1:30 p.m. Sunday vs. Providence.
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