Softball Prevails over NC State, 3-1Softball Prevails over NC State, 3-1

Softball Prevails over NC State, 3-1

Yessenia Lopez, Kaitlyn Felton combine to allow one run while striking out seven.

by Ryan Ladika
Box Score

ORLANDO – “Like a hand in a glove.”

Stormy Kotzelnick’s postgame nod to how the UCF softball team’s freshmen have blended with their new team through three games was personified in the squad’s latest win, a 3-1 effort over the NC State Wolfpack Friday evening.

Right-hander Yessenia Lopez, just a day removed from her collegiate debut against No. 12 Georgia Thursday evening, put on display her resolve and her lessons learned when she toed the rubber against the Wolfpack.

The Doral Academy High School product stymied her opposition throughout her four-inning appearance before giving way to veteran right-hander Kaitlyn Felton to finish the job. The duo’s seamless performance helped push the squad back over .500 at 2-1 and represented their team’s second showing of the young season with one or fewer runs allowed.

“A bright future ahead for that young lady. She’s pleased with the team win, but I can tell she still wants more. I’m really excited for what she has to offer, how far she’s come so far being here, and where her and the rest of the pitching staff is going to take us.”

Cindy Ball-MaloneHead coach

Lopez’s first test of the evening was an immediate one, when the Wolfpack loaded the bases in the top of the first inning with a pair of singles and a walk.

She demonstrated that resolve in fanning her second hitter of the frame on six pitches to escape the threat, and moments later notched a spotless 1-2-3 second frame on the strength of two groundouts and a pop out.

“She’s been playing with team Puerto Rico for such a long time. She’s a workhorse, she loves the big moments, and she was just like me in the sense that she asked a lot of questions.”

Kaitlyn Feltonright-handed pitcher

In the face of a leadoff walk in the top of the third inning, Lopez again bounced back with three straight outs to keep her team level until a key Kotzelnick hit gave the Black and Gold their first lead of the game.

Aubrey Evans and Samantha Rey drew back-to-back walks ignite the Knights’ offense in the home half of the third, and a deep flyout by Sierra Humphreys set the table for Kotzelnick. The left fielder wasted no time, lining the first pitch of her at-bat back up the middle to plate both teammates and give UCF a 2-0 advantage.

“I knew in that moment my team needed me the most, and they needed me to make an adjustment. I was proud that I was able to do that for them and set an example that we can do what we need to do in order to win.”

Stormy Kotzelnickleft fielder

After the Wolfpack halved UCF’s lead with a one-out solo home run in the top of the fourth inning, Lopez concluded her second collegiate appearance on a high note with back-to-back outs to preserve her team’s narrow edge.

Ball-Malone called upon Felton to close the door, and the senior right-hander answered with three innings of scoreless, one-hit ball to clinch her first save of the season.

After a perfect fifth inning that featured a trio of flyouts, Felton danced out of danger in the sixth, stranding a pair of NC State runners with a strikeout, groundout and a pop out to third base.

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A Wolfpack leadoff walk in the seventh was quickly rendered moot as well when Felton induced a fielder’s choice groundout and flyout and notched her second punchout of the evening.

The Knights also recorded an insurance tally in the bottom of the sixth inning, courtesy of an Ashleigh Griffin RBI single that plated Coco Jaimes.

UP NEXT

UCF looks to build upon its second win of the season Saturday evening, when it will meet the Illinois Fighting Illini at 5 p.m. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.

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