WICHITA, Kan. (UCFKnights.com) - Two four-run sixth inning rallies wasn't enough for the Knights as they dropped both games to Wichita State Friday evening at Wilkins Stadium.
Jazmine Esparza led the charge for the Knights registering three hits and four RBI with a run scored, while Cassady Brewer extended her on-base streak to 15 games collecting three hits and drawing two walks.
Megan Greenwell added a trio of hits along with the only stolen base of the game for her 15th of the season, while Tamesha Glover blasted her second home run of the season.
The Knights move to 8-6 in conference play and 30-18 overall, while Wichita State improves to 8-6 in the American Athletic Conference and 26-17 overall.
Game One
The Shockers got on the board in the first with a pair of singles to go up 2-0 on the Knights, but UCF grabbed a run back after Erin Emanuel tripled down the right field line and was plated with an RBI single from Greenwell.
Wichita State grabbed another pair of runs in the third with a two-run home run from Bailey Lange and added a fifth run in the fourth to go up 5-1.
The Knights erased the deficit in the sixth after Brewer and Johnson led off the inning with back-to-back singles and Kyra Klarkowski walked to load the bases for Esparza.
Esparza ripped a shot up the middle bringing in Brewer and Johnson slicing the Shocker lead to 5-3. Klarkowski and Esparza moved into scoring position after a wild pitch with Hayley Bejarano at the plate. Bejarano smacked a ball to second that was mishandled by the Shockers allowing Klarkowski and Esparza to score and knot the game at 5-5.
UCF took an 8-5 lead in the eighth inning collecting three runs on three hits including a perfectly executed squeeze bunt from Erin Emanuel, but the Knights' rally was washed away after a pair of home runs to give them a 9-8 loss.
Alea White took the loss moving to 22-12 giving up 13 hits on 147 pitches in 7.1 innings.
Game Two
UCF trailed early giving up three runs in the first two innings, but a sixth inning spurt from the Knights propelled them into a 4-3 lead.
Glover led the inning off with a solo shot to left center to garner momentum for the Knights. Brewer followed by drawing a walk and Johnson and Klarkowski each reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases for UCF.
It was Esparza again with a single up the middle to plate Courtney Rotton, who pinch ran for Brewer, and Johnson to tie it at 3-3.
Barlow walked to re-load the bases to bring up Kaitlyn Jensen. The freshman brought in Klarkowski with a soft grounder to first to take the lead.
UCF's rally would be cut short once again as the Shockers smacked their second walk-off home run of the day to center field to secure the series in a 5-4 win.
Cierra Word recorded her first loss of the season tossing 4.2 innings giving up two runs on six hits after coming in for Kamryn Toney who threw the first 1.1 innings.
ON DECK
The third and final game of the series is slated for Sunday, April 22 with a 1 p.m. EST first pitch.
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