ORLANDO – The UCF Softball team continues to find ways to win as the Knights secured their eleventh straight victory with a 2-0 win over Longwood Sunday afternoon at the UCF Softball Complex in Orlando, Fla. The win moves UCF to a program-best 16-2 start to the year.
BUST OUT THE BROOMS ?????? #ChargeOn | #ProtectThePlex pic.twitter.com/tkW11voWDk
— UCF Softball (@UCF_Softball) March 1, 2020
For the second night in a row, pitching was the key to success for UCF, who rode the backs of Breanna Vasquez and Gianna Mancha. The duo combined for the shutout, allowing just four hits in total. Vasquez, who threw 5.2 innings and struck out five, was credited with her fourth win of the year while Mancha picked up her second save.
It was a low scoring game by the Knights' standards as UCF only managed to plate a pair in the contest, their lowest offensive production since February 9, when they lost 3-2 to Duke.
That loss to Duke is just one of the only two UCF has suffered to this point in the season, with the other coming to No. 1 Washington on Feb. 12.
"That's what we talk about needing. The clutch hitting, the dominant pitching and the routine defense," said UCF Softball head coach Cindy Ball-Malone. "Although our bats didn't come alive like we would have wanted them to in that game, I still thought we played a solid game... they made some adjustments against the Longwood pitcher and I love that we got some production from both the bottom and top of the lineup."
KEY MOMENTS
- Kyra Klarkowski doubled to left with two away in the fifth and came around to score on a Justene Molina RBI base hit to right, putting UCF up, 1-0.
- Longwood threatened in the sixth with runners on second and third and two away, but coach Bear put in Gianna Mancha and she delivered, getting the Lancers batter to roll over to short to end the inning and maintain the UCF lead.
- Shannon Doherty hit a sharp single through the left side to bring in Jada Cody for the second UCF run of the game in the bottom of the sixth.
NOTABLES
- With the win, UCF extends its winning streak to 11 straight games.
- Following the weekend, the Knights are 16-2 to begin the season.
- The win over Longwood marked Ball-Malone's 50th as the Knight's head coach.
- The Knights outscored opponents, 14-2 over the weekend.
- With a check swing hit in the second, Shannon Doherty extended her hitting streak to 13 games, tying the longest for a freshman since Stephanie Best in 2003.
ON DECK
UCF will return to action Wednesday, March 4 at 6:00 pm as the Knights are set to make up their postponed game with No. 9 FSU at the UCF Softball Complex.
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.
GET THE APP
Never miss any UCF Knights news from your favorite team by downloading the free UCF Knights app right to your iOS or Android phone! The app provides personalized information for men's and women's teams, scores, schedules, loyalty programs and even breaking news. Download the app here.