GAINESVILLE – Travel issues delayed the first pitch but did not deter the No. 23 UCF softball team as the Knights posted a 7-0 victory over No. 5 Florida on Wednesday evening in Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
UCF (30-9, 9-3 The American) took a commanding lead in the first inning and never let up, completing the season sweep of the Gators (30-5, 10-2 SEC) for the first time in program history.
"I'm proud of our team's ability to adapt and adjust with everything we dealt with today," UCF head coach Cindy Ball-Malone said. "I loved our approach early in the game to jump on top and keep rolling. (Breanna Vasquez) was phenomenal and got stronger as the game went. Defense and pitching are our true focus. I love how Team XX is attacking that challenge and having fun with it. This was a great team effort and a fun game to be a part of for Knight Nation."
A flat tire on UCF's bus pushed the game's start time back 44 minutes. What could have easily frazzled the visitors instead seemed to provide a spark for them.
Breanna Vasquez tossed a gem in the circle, allowing just three hits in a complete-game shutout. The Norwalk, Calif., native struck out a season-best eight batters in seven innings. Vasquez improved to 4-1 on the season.
Offensively, the Knights did their damage early. UCF scored four runs in the first inning, added a fifth run in the second and tacked on a pair in the third. The Black and Gold posted their second-straight 10-hit contest. The UCF defense also came up big, keeping the Gators off the scoreboard for the first time this season.
A trio of Knights posted multi-hit performances, led by Shannon Doherty's 3-for-4 showing at the plate. Doherty notched a career-best four RBI. Justene Molina and Jada Cody each tallied a pair of hits and Jazmine Esparza batted in a pair.
The Knights return to the UCF Softball Complex for a Top 25 American Athletic Conference series. UCF hosts No. 25 Wichita State for a four-game series beginning Friday at 6 p.m.
Key Moments
- Justene Molina started the Knights off with a leadoff double, moved to third on a single from Julianne Wilson and scored on a single from Georgia Blair.
- Shannon Doherty cleared the bases with a three-run homer to give UCF a 4-0 lead in the first inning.
- Doherty drove in another run in the second inning as a single up the middle allowed Denali Schappacher to score, pushing the Black and Gold advantage to 5-0.
- With one on and two outs in the third, Jazmine Esparza hit a two-run shot of the park to give the Knights a 7-0 lead.
- Florida looked poised to break through in the bottom of the sixth with runners on the corners and one out. Instead, the UCF defense came up clutch to strand the Gators and maintain the shutout.
NOTABLES
- Wednesday's victory gave UCF a season sweep of Florida for the first time in program history.
- The Knights picked up their first win in Gainesville since May 18, 2008 and the first regular season road victory over the Gators in program history.
- The 7-0 score marks UCF's largest margin of victory in the series against the Gators.
- UCF's seven runs are the second-most for the Knights in the series history. The Black and Gold's eight runs in the March 24 win in Orlando is the most scored by UCF against Florida.
- UCF scored 15 runs on the Gators in the two-game series. Florida has allowed just 19 runs in 12 SEC contests this season.
- UCF's 10-hit performance is the most hits allowed by the Florida pitching staff this season.
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