ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - Megan Greenwell had a career-high three stolen bases in a single game to become the seventh player in program history to steal over 50 bases after Wednesday's games at the UCF Softball Complex.
The Knights split the series with Princeton with a 6-1 win in the first game and a 7-4 loss to follow up the win.
Jazmine Esparza went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI, while Greenwell and Aubrey Johnson went 2-for-5 with a run scored each.
Alea White threw a combined seven innings on the day allowing only one earned run and three hits.
UCF moves to 18-12 overall as they begin conference play on Friday hosting Tulsa.
GAME ONE
The Knights began the day converting a 6-4-3 double play as they continue to lead the conference in double plays per game.
The bats came alive for the home team putting up four runs in the third inning on two hits. The rally began with a single from Kyra Klarkowski, who then stole second to get in scoring position. Alyssa Oakes came in and moved Klarkowski to third and Denali Schappacher was able to reach on a fielder's choice. Klarkowski crossed the plate after a sacrifice fly to left field by Brooke Barlow.
Courtney Rotton stepped up to the plate and smashed a triple to right field plating Oakes and Schappcher and the Knights were quickly up 3-0. UCF wasn't done as Johnson reached on a fielder's choice and Rotten was able to trot home to extend the Knights' lead to 4-0.
Princeton mustered up a run in the fifth after stringing together a pair of hits to narrow UCF's lead to 4-1.
UCF got the run back in the bottom of the fifth after Greenwell was hit by a pitch then stole two consecutive bases and was standing on third with Jazmine Esparza at the plate. Esparza ripped a double down the left field line to push Greenwell across the plate and the Knights had a comfortable 5-1 lead.
The Knights tacked one more run on in the sixth after Oakes reached on a Tiger miscue and Greenwell doubled allowing Oakes to cross the plate for the second time.
White tossed five innings giving up one run on three hits and fanning a pair of Princeton batters to get the win improving to 13-7.
Damara Begin came in to pitch two innings giving up just two hits.
GAME TWO
The Tigers struck first in game two after a series of wild pitches to bring in their first run of the game.
UCF quickly answered with a run in the bottom of the first putting together three singles to knot the score 1-1.
In the third, Princeton attacked again after garnering a hit and advancing on a wild pitch and a pass ball to go up 2-1 on the Knights, but their threat wouldn't last as UCF pushed across two more runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead, 3-2.
The Knights' fire would run out in the fifth after the Tigers put together a five-run inning, which is all they needed for the remainder of the game.
Down 7-3, the Knights would threaten in the sixth after Cassady Brewer entered the game and started the offense off with a double to straight away center. Ali Little was hit by a pitch and Kaylee Misiti walked to load the bases. Tamesha Glover crushed a liner to left and Brewer came around to score, but that would be it for the Knights.
Kamryn Toney received the start in the circle in game two and threw two innings giving up one run and one hit, walking four.
Begin collected the loss giving up two earned runs and six hits as she moves to 2-2 on the season.
ON DECK
The Knights kick off conference play on Friday as they host the defending American tournament champions, Tulsa, for a three-game weekend series. All games will feature a live stream via Knights.tv.
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