ORLANDO – For the final time as a member of the American Athletic Conference, the UCF softball team is preparing for its annual rivalry series, also known as the War on I-4, against the South Florida Bulls at the UCF Softball Complex April 21-23.
The Knights (27-19, 6-3 AAC) enter the weekend series having collected wins in eight of their last nine games following their series win in Tulsa last weekend, and nine of their last 12 games overall since the commencement of conference play March 24.
UCF, which entered the week 34th in the nation in the NCAA Division I RPI rankings as of Monday, April 17, was led last week offensively by first baseman Shannon Doherty, and in the circle by right-hander Sarah Willis. The pair swept The American's weekly Player and Pitcher of the Week awards, becoming the fifth and sixth Knights to be recognized by the conference's weekly honors and the first pair of Knights to sweep the awards in the same week this season.
In four games last week, Doherty hit .500/.625/1.250 (6-for-12) with three home runs, nine RBI and 15 total bases. Her .500 average was bested only by teammate Chloe Evans, who produced a robust .571 (8-for-14) mark with four extra-base hits and eight RBI.
In the circle, Sarah Willis threw a team-high 11.1 innings, posting a 1.24 ERA (2 ER) with four walks against 11 strikeouts while limiting her opposition to a .214 batting average-against to garner her first AAC Pitcher of the Week award.
As a team, the Knights enter the weekend series ranking among the top three in The American in a myriad of statistical categories, including runs per game (4.93, 2nd), slugging percentage (.455, 2nd), batting average (.289, 2nd), doubles (59, 2nd), fielding percentage (.965, 2nd), shutouts (9, 2nd), strikeout-to-walk ratio (1.70, 2nd), on-base percentage (.358, 3rd) and ERA (3.31, 3rd).
The Knights' 59 doubles sit one shy of tying No. 22 Wichita State for a share of the conference lead and rank 38th in the nation overall. UCF also ranks within the top 52 in the country in shutouts (44th) and slugging percentage (52nd) as well.
Freshman utility infielder Aubrey Evans has been a key factor in the Knights' excellence in hitting for extra bases thus far, leading the squad with 13 doubles, a total that ranks 21st in the nation. Chloe Evans is just behind her with 12 two-baggers, and she already ranks tied for third in program history with six triples this season, just two shy of Tiffany Lane's single-season record of eight.
Right-hander Grace Jewell has been among the Knights' most consistent starters this season, as her team-leading five complete-game shutouts are tied with the Shockers' Alex Aguilar for most in The American and 26th in the country overall.
UCF this weekend will look to carry over its momentum from a year ago, when the Knights won each of their four meetings with the Bulls. UCF outscored its western rivals 15-4 throughout its scheduled three-game series March 25-27 and later topped USF 11-0 in five innings for the American Athletic Conference Tournament Championship May 14. The four wins boosted the Knights to a 20-19 overall record against the Bulls in 39 meetings all-time.
Utility player Kennedy Searcy represented the team's leading hitter against South Florida last season, hitting .444 (4-for-9) with five runs scored, two home runs, two RBI, two walks and a 1.111 slugging percentage. Johneisha Rowe, Jada Cody and Doherty joined Searcy in recording four hits in the four games.
South Florida enters the weekend with a 27-19 overall record and a 6-3 mark within The American, most recently suffering a 7-3 walk-off defeat to the No. 13 Florida Gators Wednesday evening. Prior to Wednesday, the squad had won each of its previous five games against Stetson and Tulsa after suffering a three-game sweep on the road against Wichita State.
Led by redshirt freshman Payton Dixon's 1.47 ERA (90.2 IP, 19 ER), a mark that ranks first in The American, the Bulls boast a 3.02 team ERA that ranks second in the conference to the Shockers' mark of 2.44. Jaden Martinez and Gabriella Nori join Dixon as the three most relied-upon hurlers by head coach Ken Eriksen, posting respective ERAs of 2.38 (53 IP, 18 ER) and 2.67 (73.1 IP, 28 ER).
Offensively, junior utility player Marissa Trivelpiece paces the team with a .292 average (31-for-106), adding 64 total bases and 19 extra-base hits (11 doubles, two triples and six home runs).
First pitch from the UCF softball complex is slated for 6 p.m. Friday evening, 4 p.m. Saturday and 12 p.m. for the Sunday series finale.
