LONG BEACH, Calif. - The UCF softball team finished their California road trip on Sunday by sweeping another double header by defeating Nebraska 7-3 in game one and Long Beach State 12-0 in game two to finish their West Coast swing 7-0 and extend their winning streak to 11 games.
"It's huge to take the trip that we took and deal with the time change and daylight savings time," said head coach Cindy Ball-Malone. "With the distractions of everything in California and family time and all of that, the team did a really good job of taking care of business and then enjoying the moment with their families."
The week was a homecoming for 11 players on UCF's roster as they took a tour of three cities spread throughout the entire state on the seven-game swing. Out of 23 players on the roster, nearly half hail from the state of California.
"It was big time for the players to have their families there," said Ball-Malone. "We felt like we were at home. We maybe had 200 fans there today. It's really big to have that following and to see them play as loose and as free as they did."
The current Black and Gold squad is the first team in program history to go unbeaten on a West Coast trip. Previous best West Coast trips include a 3-1 trip to Las Vegas in 2005, a 4-1 resume in Hawaii in 2015 and most recently a 5-2-1 record in California in 2020.
GAME ONE
UCF got going right away as there were two on and two out when Ashleigh Griffin started the scoring for the Knights in the top of the first. She singled down the left field line for the first run of the game, scoring Jada Cody. Denali Schappacher singled to third base, extending her hitting streak. The play turned into a 2-0 lead for the Black and Gold aided by a throwing error by the third baseman, leading to Shannon Doherty scoring.
After two singles by Justene Molina and Micaela Macario in the second, a sacrifice bunt by Johneshia Rowe moved the runners up. This proved to be a worthy play as Molina came around to score on a wild pitch, making it 3-0 UCF. Later in the inning, the Knights pulled off a double steal, including Macario stealing home for the 4-0 lead. The stolen base gives Macario 11 on the year, which ranks first on the team.
Things were quiet until the bottom of the fifth when Nebraska got on the board. With a runner on second and one out, Cam Ybarra tripled to center field, scoring Ava Bredwell. Next up was Sydney Gray who proceeded to double to right field, scoring Ybarra making it a 4-2 game. Mya Felder singled in Gray for the Huskers' third run of the inning and to cut the Knights lead to one.
The Knights responded in the sixth by loading the bases with no outs. Jada Cody grounded out to second, which scored Macario and gave Cody her 40th RBI of the season in just 28 games. Cody leads the nation in RBI, edging Washington's Baylee Klingler by one at the weekend's end.
Schappacher doubled down the left field line to begin the top of the sixth for UCF. With one out, Molina singled through the left side, then promptly advanced to second on a throwing error. The same error brought Schappacher in to score for the 6-3 advantage. After a Macario walk, Rowe added an RBI single, as she hit one through the right side scoring Molina and making it 7-3.
Gianna Mancha got the win again, bringing her win total to nine. She went four and a third innings and tallied seven strikeouts. Kama Woodall got her first save of the season as well as the Knights solidified their tenth straight victory.
"Gianna did a really good job in that first game of keeping the momentum in our hands," said Ball-Malone. "Nebraska can hit the ball and she did a really good job of keeping them off balance. And then Kama came in and closed the door. It was good to get some of those runs for a little extra cushion there."
GAME TWO
Schappacher got things going for the Knights in the second by doubling down the left field line. Maddie Bejarano then had a bunt single and proceeded to steal second. The next batter was Molina who hit a double to right, scoring both Schappacher and Bejarano for an early 2-0 lead.
Cody and Schappacher both walked in the third and with two out and Bejarano batting, Schappacher stole second and Cody stole home to make it 3-0 UCF. Schappacher's stolen base gives her 56 in her career, placing her alone at 7th all-time in program history.
The bases were loaded in the fifth after Shannon Doherty walked, Griffin singled and Savannah Adams walked, Molina singled up the middle scoring pinch-runner Allyse Volpe and Doherty for 5-0 Black and Gold lead. The knock gave Molina four RBI at the time, the first time reaching that mark this season.
UCF's offense exploded for a seven-run sixth inning. It got started with a Doherty single through the left side with two on, scoring Kennedy Searcy from second. Griffin walked to load the bases on the next at-bat. Schappacher then walked for the second time in the game, forcing a 7-0 Knights lead. Adams contributed a 2-run single to left center, letting Griffin and Doherty score, adding onto the lead. The red-hot Molina racked up her fifth RBI of the day by reaching on a fielding error, allowing Schappacher to score, giving the team a double-digit lead. Later in the inning, pinch-hitter Damaria Cannon singled up the middle for two RBI and a 12-0 score.
Woodall got the win as she threw five three-hit innings with four strikeouts as she improved to 8-1. Angelina DeVoe finished the game off with a one-two-three bottom of the sixth in the run-rule victory.
"Kama started off game two really well and only gave up three hits," said Ball-Malone. "The defense played really well behind her, she kind of just fed the infield and I love how we took care of the ball."
Schappacher is now alone in 10th place in career hits for the Knights after Sunday's game. She also is now 7th all-time in career runs scored, with 123. Schappacher finished the weekend batting .550, going 11-for-20 with two doubles and six RBI. Molina's five-RBI game is a new career-high as well.
Game one marked the first half of the season for the Knights and it was one to remember. UCF went 3-0 against current Big 12 opponents as well as earning three walkoffs to this point, all against SEC teams. The Black and Gold currently lead the nation in walks, now sitting at 134 in 2022.
"There was a lot of great moments and learning moments in the first half of the season," said Ball-Malone. "I'm really excited to see what we're doing with all those learning moments and how we're building on it and getting better."
UP NEXT
The Knights will return to the UCF Softball Complex as they host Ohio State in a midweek contest. First pitch is slated for Tuesday
