ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The Knights collected five runs on seven hits in a 5-4 win over Memphis on Saturday at the UCF Softball Complex in an American Athletic Conference battle. The win for UCF evens the series at one win each heading into Sunday's rubber match.
Megan Greenwell and Kyra Klarkowski each recorded two hits with Klarkowski driving in a pair of runs. Denali Schappacher, Aubrey Johnson, and Brooke Barlow added a hit each in the win.
UCF improves to 28-16 overall and 7-4 in The American, while the Tigers drop to 30-13 overall and 6-5 in conference play.
The Knights struck first after Schappacher led off the first inning with a triple to right center and crossed the plate off a Cassady Brewer sacrifice fly.
The Tigers grabbed three runs in the top of the second off three hits to take a 3-1 lead from the Knights, but their lead wouldn't last long as the Black and Gold threw up four runs in the bottom of the second.
Barlow ignited the offense with a single up the middle but was out on ground ball to second from Tamesha Glover. Glover advanced to third after stealing second and getting to third on an error by the Tigers catcher to bring up Greenwell. The senior reached on an infield single to put runners on the corner for the Knights.
The Knight continued the inning by loading the bases after Schappacher walked and Brewer reached on a fielder's choice. Johnson collected a bases-loaded RBI after drawing a walk to make it a 3-2 ballgame.
A wild pitch from Mariah Nichols allowed Schappacher to knot the score, 3-3. With Klarkowski at the plate, the sophomore delivered a two-out single to bring in Johnson and Brewer to give the Knights the 5-3 lead and never looked back.
Memphis mustered up another run in the fourth inning, but the UCF defense shutdown the Tiger offense for a 5-4 final.
Cierra Word picked up the win after coming in for starter Kamryn Toney. Word threw two-and-a-third innings giving up one run on two hits, while Alea White registered her second save of the season striking out four Tigers.
ON DECK
Sunday's game time has been changed to a 10:30 a.m. start time, previously an 11 a.m. first pitch. The game will be streamed live on UCFKnights.tv and fans can follow along with live stats via ucfknights.com.
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