ORLANDO – The Knights had it all working Thursday afternoon as the offense posted seven runs on 11 hits and Alea White tossed a complete game to lead UCF to a 7-1 victory over FIU at the UCF Softball Complex in Orlando, Fla.
White was excellent in the circle for UCF as she was called on to make her team-high eighth start this season. White did not allow an earned run to the Panthers. She struck out seven and allowed just five hits en route to the complete game victory, moving her to 8-0 on the season.
White was aided by her battery mate, Karissa Ornelas, who threw out three FIU baserunners attempting to steal, tying the UCF record for thrown out baserunners in a game.
The UCF offense was also seeing the ball well all game. The Knights were successful in getting a runner on base in 13 of 28 plate appearances, or nearly half the time.
Senior Georgia Blair continued her red-hot start to the season as she was 2-for-2 with a home run and was intentionally walked to load the bases in the fourth inning. 17 games into the season now, Blair is batting an even .500 with seven home runs and 21 RBI.
The win moved the Knights to 14-3 on the season and 7-1 in their last eight games.
Key Moments
- Kennedy Searcy led the bottom of the first off with a triple to center field and Georgia Blair knocked her in to put UCF up 1-0 early.
- Later in the inning, Karissa Ornelas hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring in Blair and extend the Knights' lead to 2-0.
- Georgia Blair hit a solo home run in the bottom of the third to put UCF up 3-0.
- Justene Molina hit a single to left to drive in Denali Schappacher, putting the Knights ahead 4-0 in the fourth.
- With the bases loaded later in the inning, Jazmine Esparza walked to bring home another run for the Knights and make it a 5-0 UCF lead.
- Back-to-back sacrifice-flies from Justene Molina and Katie Burge put the Knights up 7-0 in the fifth.
- FIU got a run back in the sixth courtesy of a UCF error, making it a 7-1 ballgame.
NOTABLES
- As the winning pitcher, Alea White is 8-0 on the year
- Georgia Blair's home run in the third was her seventh of the year, surpassing her 2020 total of six home runs.
- Denali Schappacher was 3-for-3 in stolen base attempts on the afternoon, her career-high
- With her 16th career outfield assist in the seventh inning, Kyra Klarkowkski became UCF's all-time leader in that regard.
- Karissa Ornelas threw out three baserunners attempting to steal, tying a UCF single-game record.
UP NEXT
The Knights will hit the road for the first time since opening weekend when they took three of four against FGCU. The black and gold will head to Boca Raton, Fla. to play FAU in a three-game series. The Knights will play the Owls Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday in a doubleheader at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
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