TAMPA, Fla. – The No. 23 UCF softball team won its 17th consecutive game, beating South Florida 7-2 on Saturday night to secure the series with a chance to sweep on Sunday.
"It was our first conference game with Kama and Kait and regardless of what we did yesterday, its always tough getting your first one in conference," said head coach Cindy Ball-Malone. "I loved how they kept us in it because USF is feisty and they'll do what they can to stay in the game. I like how we got the production from Nene at the top of lineup and Jada getting her RBI later on in the game and Shannon with the big line drive home run. I was also really impressed with what Lala did with her at-bat."
The Knights were on the board early, scoring in the first inning once again. Johneisha Rowe reached on an infield single, putting the leadoff runner on for the Black and Gold. UCF blasted a homer for the sixth consecutive game as Shannon Doherty ripped one over the right-centerfield fence that left the ballpark in a hurry to gain a 2-0 lead.
Alexis Johns got the Bulls on the board as she climbed aboard with a leadoff walk and eventually stole second. She advanced to third and eventually scored on a pair of ground balls to cut the lead to 2-1.
UCF took the run right back in the second inning as Jada Cody collected her national-leading 51st RBI of the season, smashing one back up the middle to score Rowe.
The Knights cracked the ballgame open in the third. After an Ashleigh Griffin walk and Maddie Bejarano climbing aboard on an error. Micaela Macario drove them both in with one swing, bouncing a double off the left field wall to put UCF up 5-1. Rowe followed up Macario with another infield single, plating another run in the process to make it 6-1.
The Black and Gold tacked on one more in the top of the fourth and took advantage of three Bulls errors. Doherty led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on an overthrow by the shortstop. Griffin followed suit with a single to right, putting runners on the corners with nobody out. Bejarano smashed one to the second baseman and saw it glance off her glove, allowing Doherty to score. UCF had plated a run in each inning through the first four frames and held a 7-1 lead.
The top of the fifth saw Rowe earn her third base hit of the day, finishing the day a perfect 3-for-3 with a walk, reaching base in all four plate appearances. She also swiped two bags and now leads the team in stolen bases with 15.
South Florida pulled one back in their half of the fifth as they executed a double steal of second and home. That's all the Bulls plated in the inning as they left two stranded, wrapping up the scoring for the evening as the second meeting of the War On I-4 finished in favor of the Knights 7-2.
Kama Woodall improved her record to 10-1 after getting the ball to start the game, going five strong innings while surrendering just two runs on six hits while striking out a pair. It's the first time in Woodall's career that she's accomplished a 10-win season and is on pace to post the best W-L record of her five-year career.
Kaitlyn Felton got the ball in relief of Woodall and was lights out, tossing two innings of one-hit ball while punching out three Bulls.
Tomorrow presents an opportunity for the Knights to earn their first sweep over South Florida in program history. A win would also even the all-time series against the Bulls at 19-19.
UCF has now strung together 17 consecutive victories, the second longest streak in team history. The mark is four shy of the record of 21 straight wins, achieved in 2002.
"I think we found our roles and figured them out," said Ball-Malone. "We really know what we do well at and continue to get better on some of the other things we're working on. We're playing with confidence and having fun. It's fun to see us develop, grow and mature as quickly as we are."
Just two games into the conference slate, the Knights are alone at the top with an American Athletic Conference record of 2-0. ECU and Memphis split the first two games of their series while Houston and Tulsa also did the same. Wichita State is the lone team not facing a conference opponent this weekend.
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.
