May 10, 2007

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ORLANDO, Fla. - A five-run fifth inning by UCF erased a three-run deficit and propelled the host and fourth-seeded Knights to a 5-3 victory over No. 5 Marshall in game two of the 2007 C-USA Softball Championship presented by Coca-Cola. The win was UCF's first in C-USA Championship action.

Marshall (31-25) jumped out to the early lead, plating three runs in the second inning. Three consecutive Thundering Herd singles loaded the bases in the second and a fielding error by the Knights allowed Marshall to tally three runs in the frame.

The error occurred after Bertoldo slapped a shot to first that Breanne Javier scooped up and threw wide of home plate. Guzzo scored on the play and the bases remained loaded with no outs.

UCF starter Allison Kime recorded an out before first-team All-Conference catcher Rachel Folden came to the plate and laced a double to center scoring both Rachael Sofie and J.J Bitner to give the Herd a 3-0 advantage. Folden's hit was the 200th of her career and the junior's 13th double this season.

Kime got out of the jam and allowed only one hit after Folden's double giving her team a chance to make the comeback.

"The part that we struggled so much with this year was making the error and not being able to bounce back," Luers-Gillipsie said. "We talked about it last weekend. When I called timeout in the cirle during the second inning I told the player to relax and have fun out there. When you make an error, you have to shake it off. Let's just enjoy being here and having the opportunity to play hard. It's not so much about the way you are playing as it is the way you bounce back."

Marshall held on to its 3-0 lead until the fifth inning before the Knights surged ahead 5-3, scoring all five runs with two outs in the frame. UCF (35-24) had four hits and took advantage of four Marshall errors to gain the lead.

Kacie Feaster got the UCF rally started when she singled down the right field line with one out and advanced to second on a throwing error by Bitner. After a C.C. Alvarez pop out, Amber Lamb singled to score Feaster and advanced to second on another Bitner error. Breanne Javier followed with another single to score Lamb and cut the advantage to 3-2.

Hillary Barrow stepped to the plate next, only to be hit on the wrist by pitcher Abigail Harter. With Javier at second and Barrow at first, winning pitcher Allison Kime singled to right field scoring Javier to tie the game and chase Harter from the contest.

Amanda Luers took Harter's place in the circle and would face Shelly Frick with Barrow at third and Kime on second. After three ptitches, Folden tried to fire a pick-off down to third and catch Barrow off guard. Instead the throw went into left field allowing Barrow to score and Kime to advance to third.

Frick then hit a dribbler to third that was mishandled by Tourville, scoring Kime for the fifth run of the inning.

Kime went the distance for the win and improved to 22-11 on the season. She struck out five and gave up just five hits. Harter was charged with the loss and falls to 13-15. Harter struck out four in four and two thirds innings of work.

UCF advances to face top-seeded Houston at 6:30 p.m. EST this evening. The Herd will play the loser of tonight's East Carolina/Memphis game at 12:30 p.m. on Friday.