ORLANDO – The Knights kept their foot on the gas in the series finale against Houston Sunday afternoon at the UCF Softball Complex, coming from behind late to walk-off the Cougars, 4-3 and secure the series sweep.
The sweep marks the Knights' first-ever four-game conference series sweep in program history and it is their first sweep to open conference play since doing it against UConn in 2019.
The walk-off win was UCF's third walk-off in its past five games (No. 5 Florida, 8-6 and Houston, 2-1).
The Knights jumped out in front 1-0 early Sunday afternoon as shortstop Georgia Blair hit a solo shot in the third. The home run was Blair's 11th of the season, which leads both UCF and the conference.
UCF could not hold onto the lead as Knights' starting pitcher Gianna Mancha began to struggle with control in the middle part of the game, hitting a batter to walk in a run and allow Houston to tie the game at one. The Cougars would later hit back-to-back RBI doubles to extend their lead to 3-1.
Down 3-2 headed into the seventh, the Knights' first two runners of the inning reached base to start the inning, and both came around to score on a Houston error, giving UCF the 4-3 walk-off victory.
In the circle, Mancha finished the day with 4.2 innings pitched, allowing three earned while striking out three. She was relieved out of the bullpen by Breanna Vasquez. Vasquez was masterful in relief for the Knights, allowing just one base hit and no runs to secure the win and move to 1-1 on the season.
With the win, UCF moves to 24-6, 4-0 on the season.
"It is going to be exciting to see us continue to keep learning and growing," said head coach Cindy Ball-Malone. "I am enjoying that process as a coach and as a part of this program."
Key Moments
- The Cougars threatened with runners on the corners and two outs in the third, but Gianna Mancha got the groundout to get out of the inning and keep the game tied at zero.
- Georgia Blair hit a solo home run in the third to put the Knights up 1-0.
- Houston answered back in the top of the fourth as UCF starting pitcher Gianna Mancha hit a batter with the bases loaded, tying the game at one.
- Back-to-back RBI doubles from the Cougars in the fifth would give them the 3-1 lead.
- With runners on the corners and just one away in the bottom of the fifth, UCF head coach Cindy Ball called on the double steal and the Knights executed it to perfection as Kennedy Searcy was safe at home, cutting UCF's lead to 3-2.
- The Knights' first two runners reached base to start the bottom of the seventh and came around to score on a Houston error, giving UCF the 4-3 walk-off victory.
NOTABLES
- The series sweep in the opening week of conference play marked UCF's first since 2019 when the Knights swept UConn to open league play.
- The sweep marked the Knights' first-ever four-game conference series sweep.
UP NEXT
The Knights will head to Tulsa, Oklahoma for a four-game series with the Golden Hurricane from Thursday, April 1 through Saturday, April 3.
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