ORLANDO – UCF Softball has a new all-time wins leader in Alea White as White guided the Knights to an 8-2 victory and a series sweep over New Mexico State on Sunday at the UCF Softball Complex. White secured career win No. 81 in the contest to pass Shelby Turnier as the winningest pitcher in program history.
"I'm so proud of Alea for setting the record. She deserves it." said head coach Cindy Ball-Malone. "I couldn't think of a better person to lead our program, and it's an honor to be a part of it and have been there with her today. I love handing her the ball every game."
On the mound, senior Alea White (4-0) was lights out in her record-setting performance. She was perfect through four before New Mexico State's Kayla Bowen singled to right to lead off the fith inning. White threw a complete game, allowing no earned runs on just four hits while striking out eight.
She did it! Congrats to Alea on becoming UCF Softball's all-time wins leader ??#CHARGEON pic.twitter.com/9zBniaPaCj
— UCF Softball (@UCF_Softball) February 21, 2021
"I'm just super grateful and honored," said White. "Without the girls behind me and the teams that I have been a part of in my last four years here, none of this would have been possible."
The UCF offense continued its monster start to the season on Sunday as well. After posting five runs in the first, including a grand slam off the bat of sophomore Shannon Doherty, the Knights put up eight total runs on 11 hits and scored in three out of six innings to complete the sweep.
Key Moments
- With two on and one away in the first, Jada Cody singled up the middle to bring home Juliana Wilson and give the Knights the early, 1-0 lead.
- With the bases loaded in the same inning, sophomore slugger Shannon Doherty hit a grand slam, the first of her career, to put the Knights up 5-0.
- Alea White, who was perfect through four innings, allowed her first New Mexico State baserunner in the fifth on a single that just dropped in in right field.
- The Aggies scored two in the fifth on three hits, cutting the UCF lead to 5-2.
- Kasey Fava pinch ran for Karissa Ornelas in the bottom of the fifth and came around to score to extend the UCF lead to 6-2.
- The Knights rallied for two more insurance runs on three total hits in the bottom of the sixth, putting them up 8-2.
NOTABLES
- With the win, Alea White is now UCF Softball's all-time winningest pitcher with 81 career victories.
- White had a perfect game going through four complete innings before an Aggies' single broke it up to lead off the fifth.
- With the win on Sunday, UCF completed the sweep of New Mexico State to move to 6-1 on the season.
- Shannon Doherty's grand slam in the first inning was the first of her career.
UP NEXT
UCF will invite No. 21 Missouri to the UCF Softball Complex for a Wednesday night showdown at 6:00 pm on Feb. 24.
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