UCF Prepares to Host No. 1 Ranked Washington

ORLANDO – The UCF Softball team is gearing up for a showdown with the No. 1 overall ranked Washington Huskies on Wednesday. After starting the season off 5-1, UCF will look to stay hot as they prepare to host a No. 1 ranked team for just the fourth time in program history.

The game will be streamed live via UCFKnights.TV and fans can follow along with the live stats here.

UCF started the season off on a high note, shutting out Indiana on Opening Knight last Thursday, defeating them by a score of 8-0. They followed that up by going 4-1 over the weekend to bring their season record to 5-1, tying them for the third best start to open a season in program history.
 
Fans are encouraged to arrive early on Wednesday to participate in Fan Fest, inclusive of an obstacle course and yard games behind the scoreboard from 4:00 pm until first pitch.
 
Stay tuned to UCF Softball on Facebook (/UCFSoftball), Twitter (@UCF_Softball) and Instagram (@UCF.Softball) for the latest on the UCF Softball team.
 
THE OPPONENT

• The Huskies are ranked No. 1 overall in the USA Softball and NFCA polls.
• Washington started their 2020 season with a perfect 5-0 record in Buzz Classic.
• Last season, Washington finished the season 52-9 and made it all the way to the College World Series championship game, where they lost to UCLA, 3-0.
• The Huskies hold a 2-5 all-time record against the Knights with UCF dropping the last meeting, 1-3 in 2019.
• Washington is ninth in the nation in team batting average (.397), 13th in runs scored (41), and 10th in On-base percentage (.472).
• Coach Bear has a history with Washington as she was an assistant coach with The Huskies from 2011-2012. She also served as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator during that time.

KNIGHT BITES

• HOT START – UCF started the season off on a high note, shutting out Indiana on Opening Knight to defeat them by a score of 8-0. They followed that up by going 4-1 over the weekend to bring their season record to 5-1, tying them for the third best start to open a season in program history. Everything was working for Coach Bear and company in The Black and Gold Tournament, from hot bats that were setting records to a solid pitching staff that now has a combined ERA of just 1.70. The Knights will look to stay hot as they take on No. 1 overall Washington on Wednesday.
• SWEEPING PLAYER OF THE WEEK – UCF Softball is being recognized for its historic start to the 2020 campaign as the American Athletic Conference named Justene Molina and Alea White the league's Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively on Monday. White appeared in three games on Opening Weekend, tossing six scoreless innings opening night against Indiana and striking out eight to lead the Knights to victory. In four total appearances, White had 19 innings pitched, 24 strikeouts, allowed just four earned runs and was 3-0. Likewise, Molina slashed .600/.647/.943 with a home run (the first in her UCF career) and 10 RBI to earn the award. It was the first time the Knights earned both Player and Pitcher of the Week honors in the same week since May 8, 2017 when Alea White and Cassady Brewer each earned the award.
• OFFENSE ON FIRE – The UCF offense is off to a record hot start in 2020. With contributions from up and down the lineup, the Knights posted 40 combined runs through the first six games, marking the most runs scored through any first six games in program history. The Black and Gold also run ruled their first three opponents of the season, a first in UCF Softball history. On Sunday, UCF posted 13 combined walks against St. John's, breaking the school record for most walks in a game of 12, recorded on 5/5/18 vs. ECU. Three Knights are currently batting over .400 and four Knights already have one home run on the season.
• PITCHER'S MENTALITY – While the offense stole the show on Opening Weekend, the pitching staff was quietly dominant. Returning two big pieces from the 2019 squad in the form of Alea White and Breanna Vasquez, the Knights rotation is set to be one of the best in the conference in 2020. In 37 innings over the weekend, the Knights staff allowed just nine runs while striking out 43. With Gianna Mancha seeming like she is going to be a big addition in 2020 and with others waiting in the wings, the staff is already benefiting from some quality depth that it lacked last year.

FOLLOW THE KNIGHTS
Stay tuned to UCF Softball on Facebook (/UCFSoftball), Twitter (@UCF_Softball) and Instagram (@UCF.Softball) for the latest on the UCF Softball team.

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