ORLANDO – The squad enjoyed a fast offensive start, but the UCF softball team dropped its second straight to the Iowa State Cyclones Friday evening, 3-2, at the UCF Softball Complex.
The visitors, one day removed from earning a 2-0 win in nine innings over the Black and Gold in the teams’ opener Thursday, first grabbed the offensive momentum Friday with a pair of tallies in the top of the first frame against right-hander Kaitlyn Felton.
UCF then drew up an immediate response in the home half, beginning with a leadoff triple down the right field line by third baseman Sierra Humphreys.
Freshman right fielder Izzy Mertes was next, and she sent a fly ball to center field deep enough to score Humphreys from third to cut into the Cyclones’ early advantage.
Junior shortstop Aubrey Evans soon followed with her third home run of the season out to left-center field, tying the affairs at two runs apiece.
The long ball gave Evans a new single-season career best with her third of the spring, and also represented her second game-tying home run of the year. The Apopka native also tied UCF’s matchup against then-No. 4 Arizona at two runs apiece in the top of the third inning March 8, a key hit in helping her team secure the highest-ranked series win in program history.
Felton quickly bounced back with a scoreless top of the second inning, but Iowa State would tack on what would prove to be the decisive third score in the third frame.
The Knights’ senior right-hander quieted the Cyclones offense from there, spinning four scoreless innings to conclude her evening.
In her latest outing, Felton notched her seventh appearance of the season with at least seven innings pitched, and recorded at least six strikeouts in an outing for the third time this year.
UP NEXT
UCF looks to earn a win in the series finale Sunday afternoon, with first pitch set for 12 p.m. from the UCF Softball Complex. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
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