FULLERTON, Calif. - The UCF softball team continued their winning streak on Saturday as they swept a doubleheader against Iowa State and Cal State Fullerton. The Knights' now nine-game winning streak is a season high and improve to 5-0 on the California road trip.
"I think Jada had a day and Gianna led the way in the circle," said head coach Cindy Ball-Malone. "I like our grit and how we kept fighting back to stay in it. Getting those two big innings in the last two innings against Fullerton was really good for us."
GAME ONE
The still dominating Jada Cody led off the scoring for UCF in the bottom of the first by launching a 2-run homer to center field, for her sixth of the year giving the team an early 2-0 lead. Later in the inning with two on and two out, Denali Schappacher singled through the left side, scoring Shannon Doherty, making it three runs in the inning for the Knights. Schappacher now has a season-high hitting streak of four games.
Iowa State got a run back in the second on an RBI groundout with two on, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
After a Johneshia Rowe walk and a Kennedy Searcy single in the second, Doherty singled to second, scoring Rowe and advancing Searcy. Ashleigh Griffin then reached on a fielding error which brought Searcy home, making it 5-1 ballgame.
A single and two walks loaded the bases for the Cyclones with one out in the third. Alesia Ranches then walked, forcing in a run. After a pitching change for the Knights, the next batter walked as well leading to another run making it a 5-3 game.
The Knights had the bases loaded in the fourth after two walks and a hit by pitch. Griffin cashed in for an RBI single to center field, scoring pinch runner Katie Burge for a 6-3 lead. For the sixth game in a row, the team has scored at least six runs, making UCF 14-1 when they score six or more runs in a game this season.
Kaylee Pond homered to center field for the Cyclones for her first homerun of the season, to make it a two-run ball game in the top of the fifth.
Now in the sixth, with a runner on second with two outs, Kasey Simpson singled to right center scoring Lea Nelson leaving the Knight's lead to a slim one run. Simpson was thrown out trying to stretch her hit into a double for the third out.
Searcy got the run back as she homered left center for the Knights' second homer on the day and her second on the year, giving the Black and Gold a 7-5 lead.
Kama Woodall got the win on Saturday improving her record to 7-1, tying her with Gianna Mancha for first on the team in wins. Mancha earned her second save of the season, giving her eight total career saves, tying Jamie Ujvari for second all-time at UCF.
GAME TWO
The Titans struck first in the bottom of the first. With two on and two out, Peyton Toto reached on a fielding error causing Daisy Munoz to score for the first run of the game. Bailey Wallace later singled with a blooper over shortstop, bringing in Munoz for a 2-0 lead for Cal State Fullerton.
The Knights came back in the top of the third because of none other than Cody. With runners at the corners and two out, Cody blasted one to center field for a three-run shot, her second homer of the day and seventh of the season. The three-run blast gave Cody 37, putting her one behind national leader Baily Klingler of Washington. The home run gave UCF their first lead of the game, going up 3-2.
The bases were loaded in the fifth for Schappacher and she came through with a 2-run single, bringing Cody and Searcy home to score. With this hit, Schappacher has moved into a tie of 10th place in career hits in program history with 193. With the bases still loaded after a Katie Burge bunt single, Emmerson Lee singled through the left side to drive in a pair to make it 7-2.
Cody did it again in the sixth by sending one over the left center field fence for a 2-run homer, making it three on the day and two in the last three innings. This was Cody's first multi-homer game of the season as she collected five or more RBI in a single game for the second time this season. With the bases loaded again for Lee, she grounded out, scoring Doherty, for her second RBI of the game and a 10-2 lead. Pinch hitter Damaria Cannon added another RBI groundout, bringing Schappacher around to score and put the Black and Gold ahead 11-2.
Gianna Mancha was stellar again with five impressive innings while tallying seven strikeouts. She earned the win, giving her eighth on the season tying her for eighth all-time in career wins with 27.
"She's just doing a good job of keeping it simple and using what she has," said Ball-Malone. "She's moving the ball and spinning the ball, using her different speeds and I love how she's been able to come into games or start games and keep the hitters off balance.
Cody's three home runs today gives her 18 career home runs, moving her into sixth all-time for homeruns in Knights history. Her teammate Shannon Doherty is currently tied for 9th with 16. Cody finished the afternoon by going 5-for-7 with three homers and seven RBI. She has collected 39 RBI on the campaign which puts her one in front of Washington's Klingler for the national lead. Cody needs just one more RBI to climb into the top 10 of UCF's single season RBI list.
"In order to have all those RBI you've gotta have people on base," said Ball-Malone. "The lineup is doing a good job of protecting her and forcing people to throw to her. She's had opportunities to hit people in and I love that she is staying calm and taking her swings and using the entire field."
UP NEXT
The Knights will wrap up their California trip on Sunday with a double header against Nebraska and Long Beach State. First pitch against the Cornhuskers is slated for noon ET with the Long Beach State game taking place right after.
"We had a big crowd at the game today, it felt like a home game," said Ball-Malone. "I think we had more fans than the actual home team did. When they were all chanting UCF, I looked down at the team and they were so proud. Having 11 Californians on the team, it's cool to see them play well in front of their families."
FOLLOW THE KNIGHTS
Stay tuned to UCF Softball on Facebook (/UCFSoftball), Twitter (@UCF_Softball) and Instagram (@UCF.Softball) for the latest on the UCF softball team.
GET THE APP
Never miss any UCF Knights news from your favorite team by downloading the free UCF Knights app right to your iOS or Android phone! The app provides personalized information for men's and women's teams, scores, schedules, loyalty programs and even breaking news. Download the app here.
