FULLERTON, Calif. – The (RV) UCF softball team's offense demonstrated admirable resolve throughout the squad's Saturday-evening-into-Sunday-morning 2023 Judi Garman Classic finale, but in the end the group's luck hasn't quite yet turned around.
After rallying for a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 6-5 lead over the tournament host Cal State Fullerton Titans, a Fullerton three-run home run in the home half of the frame sent the Knights to their fourth straight loss, 8-6, and marked UCF's fifth defeat in walk-off fashion in its first 22 games overall.
With their team trailing by one and only three outs remaining, right fielder Chloe Evans and catcher Jada Cody began the final frame with leadoff and one-out singles, respectively, before Evans' heads-up baserunning landed her at third base courtesy of a Titans wild pitch.
Sophomore Savannah Adams, the reigning American Athletic Conference Player of the Week, then came through for her team once more, driving a single through the right side of the infield to plate Evans and tie the game at six runs apiece.
On the other side of a pitching change, veteran first baseman Shannon Doherty snapped her four-game hitless streak with a timely single off the left-center field wall that allowed Cody to race around from first and score the go-ahead run that would also represent the 101st RBI of Doherty's career, and her second of the game.
The snakebitten Knights were unable to close out the affairs in the home half of the frame, though, as a leadoff walk and subsequent single by Fullerton against right-hander Grace Jewell set the stage for Jessica Alcala's three-run, game-winning homer over the left field wall.
The long ball sent UCF to a walk-off loss for the second time in as many days, following UCF's narrow 2-1 defeat at the hands of the No. 2 UCLA Bruins Friday evening.
The ending spoiled what was an otherwise encouraging evening for the Knights, most notably for their offensive corps. After combining to score four runs throughout their first four contests during the tournament, UCF's offense was able to gain a bit more traction against the Titans Saturday.
Freshman utility infielder Aubrey Evans continued her standout beginning to her collegiate career, driving home the game's first run with a first-inning RBI double to right-center field. The hit marked her second run-scoring two-bagger of the tournament after her knock against Fresno State in the team's opener Thursday would prove to be the difference in a 1-0 Knights win.
Following her 1-for-3 showing Saturday, Aubrey Evans is hitting .297/.381/.459 (11-for-37) with five extra-base hits (four doubles and one triple) and 17 total bases.
Cody continued to climb the ranks in UCF softball lore in addition to aiding her team at the plate as well, as her two-run single in the top of the fifth inning brought the Knights back to within one run, trailing 4-3, and pushed the star utility player into sole possession of fourth on the UCF all-time RBI list with her 131st and 132nd career RBI.
Cody later scampered home on a Doherty groundout to the Fullerton pitcher, giving the latter the 100th RBI of her four-year Knights career.
UP NEXT
After making the cross-country return flight home from California Sunday, UCF will have two days to rest and regroup for another tough road matchup in the No. 8 (NFCA/USA Today) Florida Gators. First pitch from Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium in Gainesville, Florida, is slated for 7 p.m. Wednesday night.
