SAN DIEGO, Calif. (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF Knights split the double header Friday shutting out the No. 22 Long Beach State 49ers, 3-0, and falling to No. 3 UCLA, 9-1.
Kaitlyn Jensen homered twice in the win over Long Beach State and finished the day 2-for-5, while Aubrey Johnson went 2-for-4 and Courtney Rotton completed the day snagging two hits.
The Knights head into the last day of the San Diego Classic 10-8 overall with the 1-11 Santa Clara Broncos next up for UCF.
GAME ONE
The Knights' defense went to work early getting themselves out of a bases-loaded jam in the second inning as Alea White grabbed a strikeout and a ground ball to Jensen to end the inning.
The bats heated up in the bottom of the second when Jensen led off the inning smashing a solo home run over the left field fence. Johnson followed with a double to left center bringing up Cassady Brewer who drew a walk. The Knights' threat came to an end after a ground ball and a double play from the 49ers to end the inning.
Long Beach State went 1-2-3 in the third giving the bats back to the Knights who took advantage hitless 49ers. Kyra Klarkowski led off the inning with a single to center field and moved to second after a sacrifice bunt from Denali Schappacher. Rotton stepped up to the plate and drilled a ball to the first basemen who mishandled the ball allowing Klarkowski to score, but Rotton was tripped up on the base path and was tagged out advancing to second.
With the Knights up 2-0, Jensen hit her second home run of the day and third of the year over the left field wall to snag the Knights' third run.
Long Beach State would threaten in the seventh with a single and a double, but White and the defense shut the 49ers down to secure their 10th victory of the season.
Alea White picked up her seventh win of the season allowing five hits and two walks and fanning two.
GAME TWO
The Knights wasted no time against the Bruins striking first first after Schappacher singled to left and Rotton reached on a single and advanced on a throwing error putting two runners in scoring position.
Johnson then smacked a ball to the shortstop who mishandled the ball allowing Schappacher to score and gave the Knights an early 1-0 lead.
UCLA answered in the next two innings collecting five runs on six hits. The Bruins continued to connect and added four more runs on UCF miscues to secure their victory, 9-1.
Kamryn Toney moves to 1-2 after the loss giving up seven hits and five runs, while Damara Begin and Cierra Word each pitched 1.1 innings giving up a total of three hits.
On Deck
The Knights close out the San Diego Classic with an early match against the Santa Clara Broncos on Saturday at 12 p.m. ET at the University of San Diego.
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