LONGWOOD, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - It was a tale of two games for the UCF softball team on Friday at the opening day of the Friends of Jaclyn Invitational at Soldier Creek Park in Longwood, Fla. The Knights opened with a tough 5-3 loss to Louisville, but they rebounded with a 5-1 victory of Butler in the nightcap.
CONDEDING TO THE CARDS
UCF's season opener didn't go as planned with Louisville, who played a game earlier in the day, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
The Knights settled down defensively, but their offense never took off. UCF had a chance to get back into the game in the fourth with the bases loaded and only one out, but a fielder's choice and groundout ended their rally.
The Black and Gold finally got on the board in the fifth when Tamesha Glover singled through the middle, scoring Cassady Brewer, who reached on a double down the right field line.
But Louisville answered in the top of the sixth with a two-run homer, extending their lead to 5-1.
With only three outs remaining in the seventh, UCF clawed back and took advantage of a pair of UL errors to notch two more runs, but the comeback would fall short, 5-3.
BEATING BUTLER
In opposite fashion of the previous game, UCF started off hot against the Bulldogs, plating four runs in the first inning. The first four Knights that entered the batter's box all reached base safely. Brewer led off with a single to left, and Megan Greenwell and Glover followed with singles of their own. Rotten, who hit in the cleanup spot, advanced to first on a walk.
Erin Emanuel pounded in the final two runs of the inning with a slow chopper for second, which allowed Glover and Rotton, who was on second, cross home plate. Later in the third, Emanuel drove in her third RBI of the game, scoring Glover for a 5-0 lead.
UCF's defense kept Butler at bay, keeping them scoreless through the first four innings. The Bulldogs eventually tallied a run in the fifth inning during a two-out rally, but it was the only run BU recorded.
Alea White earned the win for the Knights, throwing a complete game and allowing just one run and striking out five batters.
STARS OF THE DAY
Tamesha Glover - 4-for-7, 2 RBI, 2 runs, walk
Cassady Brewer - 4-for-8, 2 doubles, 2 runs
NEXT UP
The Knights return to action tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 p.m. against Providence, who went 0-2 on Friday. They will then take on Illinois at 6:30 p.m.