Knights keep unbeaten streak alive

Photo Courtesy of Aryah Britt

The now-No. 19 UCF softball team ended the Utah Utes series in a tie on Saturday at UCF Softball Complex after two run-rule victories.

UCF (30-10-1, 8-6-1 Big 12) walked away from its fourth annual Autism Awareness & Acceptance Game in a dominant 17-0 performance, honoring the cause by wearing colored puzzle piece-themed uniforms on Thursday evening.

The Knights played an explosive second frame with seven runs, including senior infielder Aubrey Evans launching a 237-foot home run to right center, followed by sophomore utility player Kendall Yarnell’s homer deep to center field, recording her eleventh of the season.

“We’ve come out of our shell,” Yarnell said in the postgame conference. “We’ve been focusing on failing the right way and in line with the plan, and everyone’s bought into it. The past four games have shown that when we do that, we can do big things.”

Evans and junior infielder Sierra Humphreys led the offensive charge, going 3-for-4 with 4 RBIs. Senior pitcher Lena Elkins secured the mound until the last, with three strikeouts and surrendering one hit after tossing two innings.

UCF’s offensive stride carried into Friday night’s “Pups at the Plex” matchup, posting three runs in three consecutive innings for a 9-1 run-rule win.

Utah (25-13-1, 4-7-1 Big 12) managed to score its first run of the series at the top of the first, though Humphreys responded with an RBI triple after swinging at a 229-foot homer to left center.

Humphreys stood out offensively once again, hitting 3-for-3 and notching a 4-RBI, while redshirt sophomore Isabella Vega tossed the entire matchup, yielding five hits, one run and a strikeout.

Head coach Cindy Ball-Malone said that although she believed it was a solid, clean game, the Knights have to stick to their standards.

“It’s been amazing to have that run support, but you have to stay humble and keep it in perspective,” Ball-Malone said in the postgame conference. “Utah’s pitchers are very good, and our hitters are doing a good job of eroding at whomever they’re facing.”

The Utes entered the series finale putting up a fight. With the score 1-0 in UCF’s favor, Utah tied the matchup after a sacrifice fly to center field from Utah freshman outfielder Payton Crank led senior utility player Kate Blunt to home plate.

A homer to left field from Utah utility senior player Kayla Lyon, followed by infielder/outfielder Samantha Rey scoring unearned off a sacrifice fly to the infield, forced the game into extra innings.

After no action in the eighth and ninth frames, the contest was ruled official at 2-2 to wrap the series.

UCF flies southwest to face the Arizona State Sun Devils (29-11, 4-8 Big 12) in another weekend series at 9 p.m. EDT beginning Friday at Alberta B. Farrington Stadium.