ORLANDO – The No. 22 ranked Knights had it all working Wednesday night as the offense combined for eight runs and Alea White allowed just two hits in the complete game shutout effort to lead UCF to the 8-0 victory over the University of North Florida.
"It's nice to let different people shine on different days," said head coach Cindy Ball-Malone. "It was great to see the bats come alive with Jada [Cody] and Juliana [Wilson] today."
While the UCF offense certainly did its job, White (6-0) was lights out in the circle for the Knights, allowing just two hits and earning her third shutout of the season already. On the season now, White has a 0.94 ERA, is holding batters to a .178 batting average, and has 41 strikeouts in 37.1 innings pitched.
"[White] is just lights out no matter what," said Ball-Malone. "It doesn't matter what pitch is working for her that day or not, she just does a tremendous job of keeping us in games and staying competitive."
It helped that White was backed up by a potent UCF offense, as has been the case for most of the year. Home runs from Jada Cody and Juliana Wilson in the third inning padded the UCF lead early on and hits from eight of the nine UCF starters kept the pressure on the Ospreys all night.
Posting eight runs total, the Knights were victorious by virtue of run rule for the sixth time this season.
Key Moments
- Kennedy Searcy led off the bottom of the first for the Knights with a bunt single and came around to score on a Georgia Blair single to right to put UCF up 1-0.
- With runners on second and third and one away in the second, Kyra Klarkowski hit a sacrifice-fly to right to extend UCF's lead to 2-0.
- Jada Cody hit a two-run home run, her first of the season, to give UCF a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the third.
- Two batters later, Juliana Wilson followed with a solo shot of her own to make it 5-0.
- Later in the inning, Kyra Klarkowski drove in a pair with a single down the right field line, making it a 7-0 Knights' lead.
- In the bottom of the seventh, Jada Cody stole second base, and throwing errors from the UNF catcher and center fielder allowed Cody to score the Knights' eighth run to walk it off.
NOTABLES
- With a hit in the third, Jada Cody now has a 15-game hitting streak, two shy of the all-time leader (Allie Jest, 17).
- Cody's home run in the third was her first of the season.
- Alea White had a one-hitter through 5.1 innings and allowed just two hits total on the night.
- The win marked White's sixth of the season.
- The shutout marked White's third of the season.
- The win marked the Knights' sixth by run rule this season.
UP NEXT
UCF will continue its home stand with a three-game series against Kennesaw State. The Knights will play the Owls Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and again in a doubleheader Sunday at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
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