#24 UCF vs FAU | #24 UCF vs FAU | #24 UCF vs FAU |
ORLANDO – The UCF softball team will look to keep it rolling over the weekend as the Knights are headed to Boca Raton, Fla. for a three-game series with Florida Atlantic. The Knights will do battle with the Owls Saturday at 6:00 p.m. before closing out the series with a doubleheader on Sunday with game one set for 1:00 p.m. and game two scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
The games will be broadcasted live on C-USA TV. Fans can watch here.
THE OWLS
FAU is off to 3-15 start to the year. The Owls host their final non-conference games prior to starting the 2021 Conference USA season on March 21. Staying consistent, the Owls continue to play one of the more difficult schedules in the country. They have faced a top-25 team two times in each of the last two weekends and they will do it once more when the play host to No. 24 UCF this weekend.
It will be the 36th, 37th and 38th meetings between the schools with the Owls holding the slim 18-17 advantage. The Knights won their most recent matchup with the Owls in 2020, coming out on top 10-0 on Feb. 16, 2020.
KNIGHT BITES
SILENCE NUMBER TWO!
The Knights took down No. 2 Arizona, 2-0 at the UCF Softball Complex on Monday behind Gianna Mancha, who allowed just three hits to the typically potent Wildcats lineup, shutting them out for the first time in 646 days (June 1, 2019 vs then No. 5 Alabama in the Women's College World Series). She allowed just five baserunners in seven innings and her nine strikeouts were the most against an Arizona offense that had been averaging nine runs per game this season. The win snapped Arizona's 23-game winning streak, which had been the longest in the country heading into Monday afternoon's matchup. It also marked the Knights' first win over a ranked opponent this season and it was UCF's first win over a top five opponent since the Knights beat then No. 4 Florida, 1-0, at home on April 4, 2018.
MY MY, MANCHA!
UCF senior pitcher Gianna Mancha was named American Pitcher of the Week on March 8 after spinning seven full innings of three-hit ball for UCF to take the victory over Kennesaw State on March 6 in Orlando. She allowed one earned run and issued one walk, striking out seven batters on 90 pitches. Mancha prevented all but one Kennesaw State base runner from advancing past second base during the game. After receiving pitcher of the week, Mancha then tossed a three-hit shutout with two walks and nine strikeouts in a 2-0 win against No. 2/3 Arizona on March 8.
THUNDER FROM DOWN UNDER
Australia native and UCF senior Georgia Blair has been on an absolute tear to begin the season. Heading into Saturday's series against FAU, Blair is slashing .500/.596/1.022 with seven home runs, 21 RBI and 47 total bases. She has accounted for 24 percent of the UCF offense to begin the season. In 2020, Blair became the fastest Knight to ever get to six home runs, needing just 15 games to do so. This year, she did it in eight games. Blair has safely reached base at least one time in all 16 of the Knights game this season.
A NEW ALL-TIME WINS LEADER
UCF Softball has a new all-time wins leader in Alea White. White secured career win No. 81 in the series finale over New Mexico State, passing Shelby Turnier as the winningest pitcher in program history. On the mound, White was lights out in her record-setting performance. She was perfect through four and threw a complete game, allowing no earned runs on just four hits while striking out eight.
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