TAMPA, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - In round one of the War On I-4 series with the USF Bulls, the Knights fell, 4-1, Friday afternoon at the USF Softball Complex.
Denali Schappacher, Courtney Rotton, and Tamesha Glover each recorded a hit for the Knights, with Glover driving in UCF's lone run.
UCF moves to 30-20 overall and 8-8 in the American Athletic Conference, while USF improves to 33-18 overall and 11-5 in conference play.
Schappacher led off the game ripping a shot to left field to ignite the offense for UCF, but that was all from the Knights in the first.
The Bulls got started in the second inning after they loaded the bases and delivered a grand slam to go up 4-0 on the Knights.
UCF threatened in the seventh inning as Brewer drew a walk to lead the inning off and was able to advance to second off a hard-hit grounder to third from Aubrey Johnson. The Knights loaded the bases after Courtney Rotton singled and Brooke Barlow walked to being up Glover.
Glover hit a soft grounder to third base and beat out the throw scoring a run for the Knights to make it a 4-1 ball game, but that was all from UCF for the final.
The Knights kept the Bulls' offense to just four hits all of which came in the second inning.
Alea White takes the loss as she moves to 22-14 on the season after facing 21 batters striking out one and walking four.
ON DECK
The War On I-4 continues Saturday at 6:30 p.m. A live stream and live stats are available and found on th UCF softball schedule page.
THE WAR ON 1-4
UCF's and USF's fan bases have long engaged in a passionate rivalry between the universities divided by 100 miles and the I-4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando. The Green and Gold and the Black and Gold will now compete for year-long bragging rights in one of the freshest and most energized rivalries in college athletics.
UCF clinched its second straight War On I-4 series this month when the UCF women's golf team finished above USF at the American Athletic Conference Championship. Heading into this weekend, UCF leads USF 44-31 with 9 points up for grabs the rest of the year.
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