ORLANDO – The UCF softball team split its midweek doubleheader with UNF on Wednesday, falling, 9-7, in a heartbreaking game one loss before bouncing back big to win game two, 9-1 in Jacksonville, Fla.
"I know that we are a very talented team, but sometimes we get a little ahead of ourselves and play bigger than we need to," said head coach Cindy Ball-Malone. "In between the two games, we just talked about getting back to who we are."
There's going to be times where even our best pitchers are going to need help and run support, and when that time comes, we have to be there for them. I'm hoping that, as we move forward, we don't have to lose to learn these things."
The Knights will next head to Columbia, S.C. for a three-game series with the No. 24 Gamecocks from March 20-21. UCF will play South Carolina in a doubleheader on Saturday with games at 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. before wrapping up the series with a 1:00 p.m. first pitch on Sunday.
GAME ONE – UCF 7 // UNF 9
Pitching woes held the Knights back from a game one victory on Wednesday as four different UCF pitchers were used, the most coach Ball-Malone has called on in any one game this season. The quartet, which consisted of starting pitcher Alea White, Breanna Vasquez, Angelina DeVoe and Gianna Mancha, allowed a combined nine runs to the Ospreys, resulting in the 9-7 loss.
UCF surrendered three long balls to the Ospreys in the contest, including a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh that gave UNF the 9-7 walk-off win over the Knights. Mancha (7-2) was credited with the loss.
Despite the struggles in the circle, the UCF offense was firing on all cylinders. The Knights took their first lead of the game in the sixth as shortstop Georgia Blair singled to left to drive in two and put the Knights up 7-6. Unfortunately, the black and gold could not hold on as they went on to lose just their fourth game of the season.
Key Moments
- An RBI double by Ospreys' backstop Ashley Goebel in the second would put UNF out in front, 1-0.
- A UNF three-run home run later in the inning would extend their lead to 4-0.
- The Knights struck back with a run of their own in the top of the third as Kennedy Searcy grounded out for an RBI to make it a 4-1 game.
- Juliana Wilson led off the top of the fourth for the Knights with a walk and UCF catcher Karissa Ornelas hit a two-run home run to clear the bases and cut the UNF lead to 4-3.
- UNF's Paige Pfent hit a two-run shot of her own in the fourth to extend the Ospreys' lead to 6-3.
- With runners on second and third in the fifth, Jada Cody grounded out but not before bringing a run home to cut the Knights' deficit to 6-4.
- With the bases loaded in the sixth, Ornelas walked to drive in a run and cut the UNF lead to 6-5.
- The next batter, Georgia Blair, singled to left to drive in two more UCF runners and give the Knights the 7-6 lead.
- A three-run home run with one away in the seventh would give UCF the 9-7 walk-off win.
GAME TWO – UCF 9 // UNF 1
The Knights bounced back in a big way in game two, posting nine runs on 12 hits and holding UNF to just one to claim the 9-1 victory and move to 18-4 on the season.
UCF fell behind early after giving up a solo home run to the Ospreys in the bottom of the first, but that was all the Knights would allow as the reigning Wilson/NFCA National Pitcher of the Week was starting in the circle for UCF in Gianna Mancha.
Following the early home run, Mancha would hold UNF scoreless for the rest of the game, allowing just three hits in the six-inning complete game effort. With the win, Mancha moved to 8-2 on the season.
After a strong game one that saw them post seven runs, the Knights' offense stayed hot in game two, posting nine runs, including eight unanswered.
Jada Cody and Denali Schappacher in particular were lightning rods for UCF as the sophomore Cody went 4-for-4 with four runs scored while Schappacher posted her second multi-hit game of the day and scored four runs and swiped three bags between the two games to help guide UCF to victory.
"I like how they put the ball in play where it was pitched," said Ball-Malone. "Denali and Jada both on the bases did a really good job today."
Key Moments
- A UNF solo homerun in the bottom of the first would give them the early 1-0 lead.
- In the top of the second, UCF senior Jazmine Esparza roped a single to left field to drive in Jada Cody and tie the game at on apiece.
- Karissa Ornelas hit an RBI-double to right in the third to give UCF the 2-1 lead.
- With two in scoring position and just none away in the fourth, Shannon Doherty grounded out to first for an RBI, putting the Knights ahead 3-1.
- The next batter, Kennedy Searcy, tripled to drive in another UCF run and extend the UCF lead to 4-1.
- Jada Cody led off the fifth with a single and came around to score on a Denali Schappacher RBI single, putting UCF up 5-1.
- The next batter, Katie Burge, singled to left to drive in Schappahcer and extend the Knights' lead to 6-1.
- Two batters later, Searcy doubled to drive in a pair, giving UCF the 8-1 lead.
- The Knights loaded the bases in the sixth and a UNF wild pitch sent a UCF runner across the plate to extend the Knights' lead to 9-1.
NOTABLES
- Sophomore Jada Cody was 4-for-4 with four runs scored in game two. Her four hits are a career-high for her.
UP NEXT
The Knights will head to Columbia, S.C. for a three-game series with the No. 24 Gamecocks from March 20-21. The Knights will play South Carolina in a doubleheader on Saturday with games at 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. before wrapping up the series with a 1:00 p.m. first pitch on Sunday.
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