ORLANDO – The UCF softball team secured the series victory over Kennesaw State Sunday afternoon at the UCF Softball Complex, splitting two games of a doubleheader to move to 12-3 on the season and 9-2 at home.
The Knights' offense was firing on all cylinders in game one, plating seven runs on 10 hits to win 7-4, but were stymied in game two as they were held to just one run in the 8-1 loss.
"We need to remember that it's just a game and we need to breathe, have fun and enjoy it," said head coach Cindy Ball-Malone. "Like I've said in the past, we are getting to play softball during a pandemic, so it can't be too bad, regardless of the result of our games today."
GAME ONE – UCF 7 // Kennesaw State 4
The Knights' offense came out to play in game one as UCF posted seven runs on 10 hits to beat the Owls 7-4.
UCF went up 3-0 early before the Owls came back and tied it up at three in the fourth, but the game would not remain tied for long as Georgia Blair came through with a clutch single in the bottom of the fourth to put UCF up 5-3. Insurance runs in the fifth and sixth would help the Knights secure the 7-4 win.
Three Knights had multi-hit games in Blair, Kennedy Searcy and Jazmine Esparza. The trio accounted for five of the Knights' seven runs.
Alea White (7-0) got the call to start in the circle in game one. White kept her team in the game and gave them the chance to win, allowing four earned in the complete game effort, striking out seven to earn the win.
Key Moments
- The Knights loaded the bases in the first and Justene Molina hit an infield single to drive in a run and put UCF up 1-0.
- With a runner on in the third, Juliana Wilson hit an opposite field home run to left center field, driving in a pair and extending the Knights' lead to 3-0
- The Owls loaded the bases in the top of the fourth and a double to straight away center field would send three runs across the plate, tying the game at three apiece.
- With two outs in the fourth, Georgia Blair singled to left and Jada Cody followed with a two-run home run, putting UCF out in front 5-3.
- The Knights manufactured a run in the fifth with some crafty baserunning, allowing Wilson to come home and extend the UCF lead to 6-3.
- Owls' catcher Cheyanne Sales cut the Knights' lead to 6-4 with an RBI single in the sixth.
- Jazmine Esparza knocked an RBI single to left field to give UCF an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, making it a 7-4 Knights' lead.
GAME TWO – UCF 1 // Kennesaw State 8
Unfortunately, the Knights couldn't pull off the series sweep as they fell 8-1 to the Owls in game two.
Freshman Grace Jewell (1-1) got the start but was quickly pulled with one out in the second inning, giving way to Breanna Vasquez with the bases loaded. The Owls cleared the bases to put UCF in a 5-0 bind early. Jewell finished the day with four earned runs allowed in 1.1 innings pitched. Vasquez did not fare much better, allowing four earned in 4.1 innings. Senior Alea White came in relief with two away in the sixth. White tossed 1.1 scoreless innings.
After posting 12 combined runs through the first two games of the series, the UCF offense was held to just one run on six hits in game two.
Key Moments
- Kennesaw State leadoff hitter Brea Dickey walked to start the game and came around to score on an infield groundout, putting the Owls up 1-0.
- Dickey singled in the second to drive in two and extend Kennesaw State's lead to 3-0.
- The next batter, Christen Florence singled to drive in two more, moving the Owls' lead to 5-0.
- The Knights got a run back in the fifth courtesy of a Katie Burge RBI groundout, making it a 5-1 ballgame.
- With the bases loaded in the sixth, UCF pitcher Breanna Vasquez walked in a run to make it a 6-1 Owls lead.
- The next batter, Taylor Cates, drove in a run on a groundout to shortstop, making it a 7-1 Kennesaw State lead.
- The following batter, Cheyanne Sales, singled to center to make it an 8-1 game.
NOTABLES
- With her 151st career appearance in game one, Alea White passed Mackenzie Audas (2012-15) as UCF's all-time appearances leader.
- With the win in game one, White moved to 7-0 on the year.
- Juliana Wilson's home run in game one marked her fifth this season.
- Kennedy Searcy was caught stealing in game two, her first unsuccessful stolen base attempt this season as she was 8-for-8 coming into the day.
- With the win in game one, UCF secured the series victory. The Knights have not lost a series so far this season.
UP NEXT
The Knights will be back at the UCF Softball Complex on Monday for a 3:00 p.m. game against No. 2 Arizona. The game will be broadcasted live on ESPN+.
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