May 8, 2008

Box Score

HOUSTON - UCF's Hillary Barrow laced a three-run home run over the right field fence in the bottom of the first inning to give senior hurler Allison Kime all the runs she would need to hold off Southern Miss as the Knights took game two of the 2008 Conference USA Softball Championship, 3-2.

C-USA Co-Newcomer of the Year Marquita Council singled with one out in the bottom of the first, followed by Southern Miss starter Samantha Davis walking Breanne Javier to put two runners on base. Barrow then stepped to the plate and smashed a 2-0 pitch over the fence for her second home run of the season and the third of her career to give her team the lead.

Southern Miss (25-30) responded in the top of the third with strong performances at the plate and on the base paths, to cut the lead to 3-2.

Megan Hill blasted her sixth home run of the season to begin the inning, followed by back-to-back singles from Kristin Chaney and Kristin Pilgrim. With Pilgrim now on third, Logan James and Jennifer Fox both struck out. However, on Fox's K, Pilgrim took off for second and Chaney was able to break for home and score to make it a one-run game.

Kime was able to silence the Golden Eagle bats for the remainder the contest and hold on for her 29th win of the season against just 10 losses. The two-time first-team All-Conference USA performer tallied eight strikeouts and scattered five hits during her complete game performance. Kime now has 326 strikeouts on the season.

The Knights (44-18) banged out eight hits, led Council's 2-for-3 day at the plate. Lexi Gresham went 2-for-2, while Breanne Javier had one hit and two walks. Barrow's three RBI give her 37 on the season.

Davis took the loss for Southern Miss and finished the season at 15-12 in the circle. James led the Golden Eagles in hits with two, including her second double of the season, while Hill finished the day 1-for-4. Hill, a second team All-Conference USA performer, finished the season with a team-high 29 RBI.

UCF improved to 4-2 all-time in the C-USA Championship and 17-9 overall in postseason league tournaments. The win was the team's first at the Cougar Softball Stadium, and the 44 wins extend the program record for wins in a season.

The Knights will play the winner between No. 3 Tulsa and No. 6 UTEP in Friday's first semifinal at 2 p.m.