Welcoming the Wildcats

ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The Knights cap off their eight-game home stand facing off against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats this Tuesday, March 27 at 6 p.m. You can catch the action at the UCF Softball Complex or live on UCFKnights.tv.

Tuesday will also feature $1 hot dogs and a hat giveaway for the first 75 students and first 50 fans. The gates open at 5 p.m.

The Black and Gold now stand 21-12 overall in the season and atop the American Athletic Conference with a 3-0 in conference play.

In The American, Courtney Rotton stands second in triples with four, while Kaitlyn Jensen is third for home runs racking up six. Senior Megan Greenwell ranks fourth in stolen bases with nine and catcher Cassady Brewer paces the conference in runners caught stealing with 11.

Alea White, who ranks first in the nation in wins (16), continues to dominate the conference rankings holding down the number one spot in innings pitched (149.2), wins (16), appearances (28) and games started (21) as she was named The American Pitcher of the Week for the third time this season.  White is also fourth in strikeouts with 108.

THE FIELD
Bethune-Cookman: 16-19 overall; the Knights hold a 22-5 all-time against the Wildcats.
This is the first time since 2012 that the Wildcats are making their way to Orlando to face the Knights. UCF looks to extend their winning streak against Bethune-Cookman to eight games.

In that year's doubleheader, the Knights down the Wildcats, 6-1 in the first game and edged Bethune-Cookman in the second matchup, 5-4.  Cassady Brewer went 5-for-7 combined for both games with four RBI, while Jazmine Esparza also added a pair of hits in the wins.

RECAPPING THE LAST UCF OUTING
The Knights completed the sweep over the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in the American Athletic Conference series opener with Alea White pitching all 21-innings tallying three complete games for a total of 16 on the season.

In the three wins, White carried a 0.67 ERA allowing just two earned runs and striking out 13 holding Tulsa to a .237 team batting average. The sophomore earned her fifth shutout of the season with the Knights' 1-0 win Friday evening to open the series and leads the conference with 16 wins.

In the series opener, sophomore Kyra Klarkowski delivered her first home run of her collegiate career and the go-ahead run to give the Knights the 1-0 win on Friday. Klarkowski also ignited UCF on Saturday after crushing a triple to right field and crossing the plate off a Tulsa miscue. The Knights went on to win the game, 2-1.

Rotton was the Knights' hero of the day on Sunday hitting the go-ahead two-run homer to left field to give the Knights a 2-1 lead and eventual victory to grab the sweep over the defending conference champions and preseason favorite, Tulsa.

SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for the highly-anticipated 2018 softball season are currently on sale. General admission tickets to all 21 home games are priced at $50 for adults and $25 for ages 2-17. Call (407) 832-1000 for additional ticketing information.

WATCH LIVE ALL SEASON
All UCF softball home games are broadcast live on UCFKnights.TV for only $7.99 a month! Sign up here to catch every pitch from the remaining 18 home games!

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