#19 UCF Achieves Best Start to Conference Play in Program History#19 UCF Achieves Best Start to Conference Play in Program History

#19 UCF Achieves Best Start to Conference Play in Program History

HOUSTON – The No. 19 UCF softball team won its 10th straight game and improved to 11-0 in the American Athletic Conference as they beat Houston 5-1 on Saturday to clinch the series. It's the best start to any conference slate in program history, topping the 10-0 start by the 2004 squad in the A-SUN.

"We put the ball in play a lot more today, especially with runners on," said head coach Cindy Ball-Malone. "In warmups, we focused on sticking to our plan and being a tough out and getting to the next pitch. I saw that in the game so that was nice."

The Knights were first to plate a run in the ballgame, scoring a run in the top of the third inning. UCF generated a two-out rally, as Jada Cody and Shannon Doherty drew back-to-back walks. Ashleigh Griffin singled to right on the first pitch she saw, scoring Cody from second for the 1-0 lead.

Houston tied the ballgame in the bottom of the fourth with a two out double to right-center field.

UCF answered right back in the top of the fifth as Griffin delivered yet again. The freshman earned another clutch base knock with two outs, smashing a line drive to left to score Kennedy Searcy from second.

The Knights went up 3-1 on a Searcy sacrifice line drive to left field, scoring Justene Molina from third who retreated to the bag, and tagged up while the ball was being tossed back in and evaded the tag at the plate.

Micaela Macario added two more in UCF's final at bats of the afternoon. With two down and the bases loaded, she dumped one into shallow left field to send Allyse Volpe and Shannon Doherty home to push the lead to 5-1.

UCF scored all five of their runs with two outs on Saturday. They posted 10 hits on the day, their most since beating Memphis 6-0 back on Apr. 9.

Kama Woodall continued the Knights' streak of holding the opposition to three hits or less to nine straight games. She finished the day with four strikeouts and two walks while only needing 88 pitches to go the distance. The performance earned Woodall her second complete game of the season as she improves to 14-2 on the season and drops her ERA to 1.97.

"Gianna and Kama compliment each other in the circle," said Ball-Malone. "They're very different looks and they keep us in the game in that way. They're competing with each other and make it really makes it tough for the opponent to make adjustments in the box."

The Black and Gold have achieved their best start to a conference schedule in program history, beginning league play 11-0 this season. The mark tops a previous best 10-0 start by the 2004 team that finished the year 42-21 with a 16-4 record in the Atlantic Sun. That group did not make the NCAA Tournament, falling in the A-SUN tournament championship game to FAU.

"They're doing the things they're supposed to be doing," said Ball-Malone. "Routine defense, dominant pitching and clutch hitting; their hard work and team comradery has really been doing well."

UP NEXT
The Knights will be going for their first road sweep of Houston in program history on Sunday. They entered the weekend with a 26-21 record against the Cougars.

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