Knights power through in extra innings

Photo Courtesy of UCF AA

Redshirt senior infielder Ashleigh Griffin’s clutch hitting helped No. 22 UCF softball overcome the Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) Eagles in a close 3-2 win on Wednesday at UCF Softball Complex.

The 5-foot-7 infielder slammed a walk-off RBI double to right-center field in the eighth inning for the win.

“We believe in ourselves and we’re going to fight until our last breath,” Griffin said in the postgame conference. “No matter how many outs we have left, we’re going to fight.”

Sophomore Beth Damon first put UCF on the board with an RBI up the middle, allowing senior infielder Aubrey Evans to score at the bottom of the third.

FGCU sophomore catcher/outfielder Kiki Daniels responded three innings later with a 2-run homer to deep left field.

A bunt from infielder/outfielder Samantha Rey led redshirt sophomore outfielder Destiny Washington to sail to home plate, giving the push UCF needed to enter extra innings.

After redshirt sophomore pitcher Isabella Vega held FGCU at the top of the eighth, Griffin followed with a clutch double that snapped the Knights’ three-game skid.

Freshman pitcher Tori Payne secured the mound, pitching a career high of 3.2 scoreless innings, recording only one hit and no runs.

Head coach Cindy Ball-Malone told reporters that she admired UCF’s fight, saying the Knights have not experienced similar games this season.

“It doesn’t matter who we’re playing, these kinds of games are super important for our team, some individual players and the culture of our program,” Ball-Malone said in the postgame conference. “We’re going through that tough part of our season, and I appreciate how they stuck with it and came out with the win.”

The Black and Gold head to the Lone Star State to face the Houston Cougars (17-18) in a weekend series beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday.