FRESNO, Calif. - Wednesday night ended in another win for the UCF softball team as they beat Fresno State by a score of 10-2.
"I like how we got off to a good start with the four runs in the first inning," said head coach Cindy Ball-Malone. "Gianna did what Gianna does, spinning the ball and getting swings and misses and really controlling the game. They had a couple of hits and runs but I really like that she was able to keep them off balance tonight."
The Knights came out swinging again in the first inning against. With two on and one out, Shannon Doherty singled to left center, scoring Kennedy Searcy from second and advancing Jada Cody to third. Savannah Adams then grounded out to shortstop, scoring Cody to give UCF the early 2-0 lead. Allyse Volpe then had a bunt single which resulted in another run scoring. Denali Schappacher kept the line going with a single, which then turned into another run for the Knights with the help of another error by the Bulldogs' second baseman.
Fresno got a run back in the bottom of the second inning on a two out double by Alesia Denby.
The red-hot Cody came through again with an RBI single with two outs in the top of the fourth, scoring Justene Molina, for the tenth hit on the night for the Knights. The RBI gives her 31 on the season, which is second in the country amongst eligible players.
Alana Cobb-Adams of Fresno State, cut the lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth by tripling to right center, scoring Emery Nielson from first.
Volpe was hit by a pitch with one out in the sixth and then proceeded to steal second, getting into scoring position for Searcy. Searcy then hit her first triple of the season to center field, scoring Volpe. Searcy went on to finish the day by going 3-for-4. Cody added another RBI single, this one to left field, making it a 7-2 ballgame.
The Knights didn't stop there as Micaela Macario scored Maddie Bejarano on a fielder's choice, adding to the scoreboard. After another stolen base, pinch-hitter Ashleigh Griffin contributed a 2-run single, making it a sturdy 10-2 lead.
The Fresno native Mancha dominated her homecoming by pitching six strong innings, accumulating eight strikeouts and getting the win, improving her record to 6-2. Angelina DeVoe finished out the game by pitching a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh, officially giving the Knights their sixth consecutive win and a 2-0 start to the California road trip.
UP NEXT
UCF will travel further south to Long Beach for the Louisville Slugger Invitational and will take on Boston on Friday at noon ET.
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