Doherty Does It Again, Walks Off Knights Over Ole MissDoherty Does It Again, Walks Off Knights Over Ole Miss

Doherty Does It Again, Walks Off Knights Over Ole Miss

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ORLANDO, Fla. – The UCF softball team mounted a come from behind victory on Friday night, beating Ole Miss 6-3 via a Shannon Doherty walk-off shot to center field.

"We took today play by play and pitch by pitch," said head coach Cindy Ball-Malone. "Our big thing has been to play recover play. I just love the response we had on every next play."

The Rebels struck first in the ballgame, pushing a run across in the top of the second. Angelina DeLeon reached on a throwing error to start the inning and later came around to score on an RBI single up the middle by Tate Whitley.

The Knights tied things up at 1-1 in the fourth inning as Micaela Macario came up to bat with the bases loaded and two outs. She turned the 1-2 delivery right back at the pitcher, banging off her arm, giving everyone enough time to reach safely.

Ole Miss retook the lead in the top of the fifth as Abbey Latham knocked one into left center field with the bases loaded, scoring two. Latham's single put the Rebels up 3-1.

Macario came to the dish in a big spot for the Knights again in the bottom of the sixth, with two runners in scoring position and with two outs. The rookie slapped a hard chopper into the ground and was able to push it just past the outstretched glove of the shortstop, scoring both runs and tying the game at 3-3. Macario had earned all three of UCF's RBI in the game, bringing her season total to eight.

After tying the game, Macario swiped second base, her eighth steal in eight attempts in her freshman season. She entered the contest in a tie of 20th nationally in stolen bases and climbed even higher with the steal in the sixth.

Kama Woodall, who came in relief of starter Gianna Mancha, held serve in the top of the seventh inning. She surrendered a leadoff walk and saw the runner advance to second on a sacrifice bunt. That was as far as the Rebels got as she forced the next to batters to roll over to Kennedy Searcy at third, ending the side.

Searcy started the home half of the seventh by reaching on a fielding error by the second baseman and then advanced into scoring position on a throwing error by the second baseman. Jada Cody walked, putting two runners on for Doherty. The Coral Springs native already had one epic walk-off homer against No. 12 Georgia to start the 2022 season, and she did it again, launching a no doubter way over the center field wall. The blast was her third home run of the campaign.


UP NEXT
The Knights will be back in action on Saturday as they face James Madison and DePaul in a double header. First pitch for the James Madison game is scheduled for 1:30 while the DePaul contest is slated to start at 4 p.m.

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Season and single game tickets are on sale now! Don't miss any of the action this year, click here to purchase season tickets now or click here for single game tickets! Stadium tickets for all Sunday, Feb. 27 games are sold out. Fans still have a chance to catch all the action from the outfield, where it is first come, first served free viewing. Tickets still remain for every other day of the tournament.

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