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Knights Overcome FIU, Complete Weekend Sweep

Watch: Bear on Weekend Sweep Box Score (PDF)

ORLANDO – The UCF Softball team put the finishing touches on a perfect weekend Sunday afternoon with a 7-1 win over FIU at the USF Softball Complex in Tampa, Fla. The victory moves UCF to 13-2 on the season, tied for the best 15 game start in program history (2015).


The offensive contributions continued to come from up and down the lineup in Sunday's win as eight different players chimed in with a hit to help UCF to seven runs. Georgia Blair hit the lone home run of the contest, getting a hold of one in the sixth for her sixth long ball of the season. Blair, Juliana Wilson and Karissa Ornelas each had a pair of RBI on the day.

"They did their research and they did their homework of what they wanted to be and what their offensive identity was going to be this year," said UCF Softball head coach Cindy Ball-Malone. "They are executing and it's fun to see. We have a different hero every day. It's awesome to watch them celebrate for each other and get excited over the little things because we believe there are no small things."

Coming off a stellar performance where she got the win over No 12 Tennessee, Alea White got the nod in the contest against FIU, tossing a complete game. White threw seven innings, allowed just one run on four hits and struck out 10 to earn her seventh win of the year.

KEY MOMENTS

  • The Panthers loaded the bases in the top of the first but a pop up and back-to-back punchouts from Alea White extinguished the threat and got the Knights back in the dugout.
  • Juliana Wilson walked to lead things off for UCF and came around to score via a Jada Cody single up the middle, putting the Knights up 1-0 early.
  • An FIU single and an error on the same play allowed FIU to score their first run of the game in the second.
  • Karissa Ornleas smacked a double to the left-center field gap, driving in a pair and giving UCF the 3-1 lead in the bottom of the third.
  • Juliana Wilson padded the UCF lead with a double to left field in the sixth, putting the Knights ahead 5-1.
  • The next batter, Georgia Blair, smacked her sixth home run of the year to put UCF up, 7-1.

NOTABLES

  • Alea White continues the climb toward the UCF all-time win record. Now at 73 career victories, White needs just seven more wins to claim first place (80).
  • Scoring the fifth run in the bottom of the sixth, this year's UCF squad became the fastest UCF Softball team to reach 100 runs in a season.
  • To this point in the season, the Knights have outscored opponents 102-32.
  • With the home run in the sixth, Georgia Blair became the fastest Knight to ever reach six home runs in a season, needing just 15 games to do so.
  • Following the weekend, the Knights have hit 14 home runs in 15 games.

UP NEXT
UCF will head home before taking the bus up to Tallahassee on Wed, Feb. 26, where the Knights will do battle with No. 9 FSU.

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