ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF softball team heads to Tampa, Fla., for the American Athletic Conference tournament facing the No.5 Memphis on Thursday, May 10 at 4 p.m. at the USF Softball Stadium.
The Knights capped off the regular season with a home sweep over ECU. Over the weekend, the Knights outscored the Pirates, 16-7 and held them to a .247 batting average to finish 34-21 overall and 12-9 in conference play. UCF tied for third with Wichita State in the standings and earned the No. 4 seed in the tournament.
For the second consecutive year, the Knights end the season in third in The American after finishing first the two years prior. In their four years in the conference, the Knights have finished third or better each year.
THE KNIGHTS
Brooke Barlow made a statement in the final series against ECU. The junior transfer went 5-for-8 (.625) in the three-game sweep over ECU to close out the regular season.
She scored three runs and knocked in a pair to lead the charge for the Knights, while drawing two walks to help herself garner a .700 on-base percentage. Her six total bases over the weekend gave her a .750 slugging percentage as she also recorded a double and was placed on the final Honor Roll of the season.
Alea White, who was named to the All-Conference Second-Team, finished the season with three straight wins throwing all 21 innings against ECU for a final 25-14 regular season record in 48 appearances and 37 starts. Her 25 wins puts her in fourth in the nation and first in the conference.
Cassady Brewer, an All-Conference First-Team selection, ranks in the top 25 nationally in walks, drawing 37 on the season as she currently has a 22 game on-base streak. In those 22 games, Brewer has walked 22 times and collected 23 hits with a .434 batting average and .698 slugging percentage.
Freshman Denali Schappacher leads the offensive charge for the Knights with a .345 batting average, 50 hits, and seven doubles in 52 starts in the outfield. The rookie has showed off her arm plenty of times in her season debut gunning out five base runners from the outfield. Schappacher was voted to the All-Conference First-Team and Rookie Team for her stellar performance during her first year in the conference.
THE FIELD
Memphis: Earlier this season, UCF hosted the Tigers and took the series with Saturday and Sunday wins after losing the series opener. In the series, the Knights were perfect on the base paths converting 10 steals. The Knights drew 15 walks to the Tigers' 7 for a .421 - .354 on-base percentage advantage over Memphis.
The Tigers enter the weekend with an overall record of 36-20 and 10-11 in The American, finishing fifth in the conference standings. This is the second consecutive year Memphis has finished fifth with their 10 wins being the most since joining The American.
THE TOURNAMENT
The three-day, single elimination tournament will be held May 10-12. All quarterfinal and semifinal contests will be broadcast live on the American Digital Network via Facebook at facebook.com/americanconf. Saturday's championship will air live on ESPN2, beginning at Noon ET/11 a.m. CT.
All rounds are single-elimination, with the tournament champion earning The American's automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA Division I Softball Championship.
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