May 9, 2008

Box Score

HOUSTON -No. 2 UCF used a complete game two-hit effort from first team All-Conference USA pitcher Allison Kime to down No. 6 UTEP, 3-0, and advance to Saturday's C-USA Softball Championship game. The championship game appearance is the first for the Knights as a member of C-USA.

The game was scoreless through two innings, even though UCF (45-18) had a chance to get on the scoreboard in the top of the first.

Tiffany Lane led off the game with a single and then the Knights had a bunt hit from Marquita Council and a sacrifice bunt from Breanne Javier to put runners on second and third with one out.

Hillary Barrow was up next and tried a suicide squeeze, but her bunt fell dead just in front of home plate and the Miners tagged out Lane as she tried to score. Kime stepped up next with two out and two on but was frozen by a Stacie Townsend change-up to end the inning and the threat.

UCF's Abby McClain opened the top of the third with a double into left center. Lane's bunt single put runners on the corners and a throwing error by UTEP's Rachel Schaeffer sent McCain home for UCF's first run of the day. With the error, Lane was able to advance two bases to get to third. The Knights' third run came off an RBI-single by Hillary Barrow.

UCF added another run in the top of the fifth after a blast by Lane hopped over the right field fence for the automatic double. She later scored off a groundout by Council.

Despite the loss, UTEP (30-24) ended the season with 30 overall wins and 10 conference victories, the most in its five year history. The Miners also graduated its first four year senior class and captured two first team all-conference selections the first team honor in its short history.

Townsend finished the season 12-12 in the circle and went five innings, giving up eight hits and all three UCF runs.

Kime is now 29-10 and racked up nine more strikeouts to give her 335 on the season, extending her UCF single season record.

The Knights 45 wins this season are the second-most in program history, trailing only the 2005 club that went 47-27-1 en route to the Atlantic Sun title and the NCAA Regionals.

UCF will be looking to win its second league title and make its second NCAA appearance in tomorrow's championship against the winner of Friday's second semifinal game between No. 1Houston and No. 5 East Carolina.

Saturday's championship game will be televised Live by CBS College Sports Network.