April 6, 2008

IRVING, Texas - Allison Kime went a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI to lead UCF to a 6-4 upset over No. 9 Houston at the UCF Softball Complex Sunday afternoon. The senior also picked up the win in the circle for the Knights, allowing three earned runs on eight hits, while striking out five in six innings of relief.

The win boosted Kime's record to 19-8 on the season and 8-2 in Conference USA play, while also snapping the Cougars' seven-game winning streak. The UCF victory was also the first all-time against Houston.

Marshall 6, East Carolina 3
Marshall 5, East Carolina 3
Marshall junior Kelly Nielson's two-run homer in the top of the fifth inning broke a 3-3 tie to edge the Herd past East Carolina (25-18, 5-6), 5-3 in game two of Sunday's Conference USA doubleheader.

Tied at three with two outs and pinch runner, Kristina Knecht, on second, Nielson drove the first pitch of the count to left center resulting in her fourth home run of the season.

Marshall (16-23, 6-7 C-USA) registered six hits in the contests, two of the six from its junior transfer shortstop Nielson. The Tucson, Ariz., native finished with four RBIs. Senior Rachel Folden had one hit in the game extending her current hitting streak to six games.

After going five scoreless innings, the Herd rallied for three runs in the top of the sixth and added another three runs in the seventh to hang onto game one on Sunday with East Carolina, 6-3.

Marshall's Samantha Rodriguez finished the game going 2-for-4 with a RBI, while junior shortstop Kelly Nielson recorded a triple with two RBIs.

The Herd's ace Caitlyn Jackson (7-14) earned the win in the complete-game effort. She went sixth-consecutive innings without surrendering a run and finished with three strikeouts, while lowering her season ERA to 4.40. In the opposing pitching circle was ECU's (25-17, 5-5) Brooke Swann (14-13) who recorded five scoreless innings before surrendering six runs in the final two.

Marshall returns to action when it takes a break from conference play for a midweek doubleheader against Ohio, Wednesday, April 9 beginning at 3 p.m.

East Carolina remains at home this week, welcoming UNC Wilmington to the ECU Softball Field for a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday. Game one is scheduled for 4 p.m.

UCF 6, No. 9 Houston 4
No 9 Houston 5, UCF 1
Allison Kime went a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI to lead UCF to a 6-4 upset over No. 9 Houston at the UCF Softball Complex Sunday afternoon. The senior also picked up the win in the circle for the Knights, allowing three earned runs on eight hits, while striking out five in six innings of relief.

The win boosted Kime's record to 19-8 on the season and 8-2 in Conference USA play, while also snapping the Cougars' seven-game winning streak. The UCF victory was also the first all-time against Houston.

Breanne Javier had two hits and a run scored for UCF, while Ashley Van Ryn registered a hit and two RBI. Hillary Barrow and Cat Snapp each added a RBI for the home team in the win.

The game was originally scheduled for 3 p.m. yesterday, but due to severe weather in the Orlando area, was postponed until early today following a half inning of play.

Game three of the series was cancelled due to rain.

The Cougars defeated UCF, 5-1, Saturday to take the first game of the C-USA series in Orlando. The second game of the scheduled double-header was halted due to rain and concluded on Sunday.

The Cougars got on the board first in the second inning of the first game. Freshman Jennifer Klinkert reached base first for Houston after being hit by a pitch. She would advance to third on two straight wild pitches by UCF pitcher Allison Kime and eventually score on a single by junior Laurie Wagner. Wagner took her turn around the bases moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Amanda Grote then scoring on a single by senior Angel Shamblin.

The Knights looked to even the score in the fifth inning but they would only come away with one run when Kime scored after being walked.

Looking to extend their lead, Houston loaded the bases in the top of the seventh inning. Shamblin hit a double to right center and junior Haley Valis followed that up with a walk. Junior Christa Raley moved them each a base, with a bunt, to put three runners in scoring position.

Junior Jessica Valis brought in freshman Casey Willow, the pinch runner for Shamblin, with a single to the short stop. Junior Katie Bush continued the trend reaching base on a fielder's choice but the Knights tagged out Haley Valis at home for the first out. Raley and Jessica Valis would extend the Cougars lead 5-1 when they both scored on a single by junior Elaina Nordstrom to close out the scoring in the inning.

The Knights stay at home for a pair of non-conference games mid-week, hosting Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday at 5 p.m., and Florida State in a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

Houston will return home for a single game against the USA Olympic Team on April 8 at 7 p.m. at Memorial Park. The Cougars will then host Texas- San Antonio in a double-header on April 9 at 4 p.m.

Memphis 5, UTEP 1
Memphis 1, UTEP 0
Memphis 6, UTEP 2
In another strong outing by freshman Rayna McClinton, Memphis earned the three-game sweep over UTEP with a 5-1 victory on Sunday at the Tiger Softball Complex.

McClinton (4-3) allowed one run on four hits for her second victory in as many days. The Columbia, S.C., native struck out three and walked eight, but pitched out of several jams as UTEP stranded 13 runners on base. <>With the win, the U of M evens its overall mark at 19-19 and improves to 3-8 in Conference USA play after starting the year 0-8. The Miners falls to 23-17 overall and 4-8 in league play. UTEP has dropped eight of its last nine conference games after starting out 3-0.

After the Miners had taken a 1-0 lead in the first inning, Memphis evened the game with a run in the second before busting out for four runs in the fourth. A wild pitch and three UTEP errors led to the big inning for the Tigers.

Junior second baseman Tori Gross led the team with a 2-for-3 performance and knocked in her fourth RBI of the series with a single in the second.

Snapping a program worst eight-game losing streak, Memphis won both games of a doubleheader to open a three-game series with UTEP at the Tiger Softball Complex on Saturday.

The 1-0 shutout and 6-2 victory are the first wins in Conference USA play for the Tigers this season who improve to 18-19 overall and 2-8 in the league.

Dominant performances in the circle for Memphis provided the legwork for the U of M. The Tigers outscored the Miners 7-2 in the two games and walked three with 17 strikeouts, while allowing 10 hits.

Freshman Kimber Bossom (8-8) earned her third shutout of the season to open the day. The Dayton, Texas, native pitched out of several jams to hold UTEP scoreless. Bossom finished with six strikeouts, no walks and six hits allowed.

In game two, freshman Rayna McClinton (3-3) had her third-straight strong outing on the mound. The Columbia, S.C., native struck out a team season high 11 batters and allowed two runs on four hits with three walks. The 11 K's ties for fourth all-time in school history. McClinton has allowed four hits or less in her last three starts.

After scoring only 11 runs during its eight-game losing streak, the Tigers broke out for seven on the day. Memphis was led by a three-run homer from junior second baseman Tori Gross in game two that resulted in the eventual game winning run.

The Tigers will next play a mid-week doubleheader at UT Martin on Wednesday, April 9 at 2 and 4 p.m. in Martin, Tenn. Memphis will then host a three-game conference series with Southern Miss on Saturday and Sunday, April 12-13.

The Miners return home to take on UCF in a three game series beginning with a doubleheader on April 12. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.

UAB 3, Tulsa 2
UAB 6, Tulsa 5
Tulsa 1, UAB 0
UAB came through in the clutch twice Sunday afternoon, rallying from one-run deficits in the seventh and eighth innings with two outs, to defeat Tulsa, 3-2. UAB won the final two games to take the series.

Seniors Holly Krzan and Jennifer Nelson delivered the key hits for the Blazers who improve to 20-25 overall and 7-8 in the conference. Tulsa drops to 21-18 and 8-7.

Both of the rallies came with two outs and the Blazers trailing by one run. Krzan singled home Mary Kendall Butler to tie the game in the seventh. Nelson delivered a two-run double that scored the winning run in the eighth.

Nelson (11-17) earned the victory by scattering six hits and allowing one earned run over eight innings. Jordan Kinard (7-4) took the loss for Tulsa despite striking out nine and allowing five hits.

The one-run win is the second in a row for UAB, who defeated Tulsa 3-2 Saturday on a Leigh Walker two-run home run in the bottom of sixth inning. Sunday's game was the sixth consecutive one-run contest for the Blazers, who dropped four to start the streak.

Walker raised her fist as she rounded the bases after helping UAB defeat Tulsa 6-5 in the second game of a Saturday doubleheader at George Ward Park. The Blazers earned the split after falling 2-1 to Tulsa in the first game. Walker's three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth erased a two-run deficit.

Holly Krzan became the Blazers' all-time runs scored leader in game one when she came home on a wild pitch.

Walker's fifth home run of the season came on a two-strike two-out pitch with UAB trailing 5-3.

Kayla Harris gave up just one earned run and struck out eight to earn her ninth victory of the season. She scattered seven hits over seven innings in her 12th complete game of the season.

The Blazers conclude their season-long home stand Thursday evening when they host Western Kentucky for a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m.

The Golden Hurricane return to action Wednesday, April 9 when they travel to Wichita, Kan. to face the Shockers of Wichita State out of the Missouri Valley Conference.