ORLANDO – A day after posting a record-high 18 runs, the Knights continued their electric start to the 2021 season on Saturday, winning by run rule again to pull of the 11-2 win over New Mexico State at the UCF Softball Complex. With the win, UCF moves to 5-1 on the young season.
"I thought we did a really good job of laying off of unhittable pitches and waiting for ours," said head coach Cindy Ball-Malone. "It really shows to their discipline and buy in to what we are doing in our offensive plan and I love how each of our players eroded the pitcher pitch by pitch."
For the second straight day, the UCF bats were virtually unstoppable as the Knights scored multiple runs in every inning and totaled for 11 runs in just four innings. After posting 18 runs in game one, the Knights have chased New Mexico State pitching for 29 runs over the course of two days.
On the mound, senior Gianna Mancha (2-0) was solid in her second start of the year. Mancha tossed a five-inning complete game, allowing just two earned runs on four hits while also striking out four.
Key Moments
- With two Knights in scoring position in the bottom of the first, UCF senior Jazmine Esparza ripped a line drive single to left, scoring both to put the Knights up 2-0 early.
- Aggies' first baseman Kayla Bowen doubled in a run in the top of the second to cut New Mexico State's deficit to just 2-1.
- Knights' backstop Karissa Ornelas hit a solo shot in the bottom of the second to extend the UCF lead to 3-1.
- In the same inning, Georgia Blair cranked a home run to left center to drive in three more and put the Knights up 6-1.
- The Aggies scored their second run of the game in the top of the third courtesy of an RBI single from Matalasi Faapito, making it a 6-2 ballgame.
- Jazmine Esparza led off the bottom of the third with a solo shot to center to extend the UCF lead to 7-2.
- Later in the inning, Kyra Klarkowksi dropped a bunt single and Allyse Volpe came around to score, putting UCF up 8-2.
- Jada Cody singled in a run in the fourth to put UCF up 9-2.
- Karissa Ornelas upped the UCF lead to 11-2 after a two-RBI double to center field in the fourth.
NOTABLES
- The Knights swiped three bags in the victory.
- The 11 runs posted on Saturday are tied for the third most for the Knights under head coach Cindy Ball-Malone.
- The Knights hit a season-high three home runs in the contest.
- Georgia Blair hit her fifth homer of the season.
- Jazmine Esparza's home run was her second of the season. She finished the day 2-for-3 with 3 RBI.
UP NEXT
The Knights will be back at it on Sunday for the final game of their three-game series with New Mexico State. The game is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch at the UCF Softball Complex.
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