Knights add fourth consecutive win at home

Photo Courtesy of UCF AA

UCF softball clawed its way to a 9-5 victory over the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Owls on Wednesday at the UCF Softball Complex.

The Knights (15-4, 0-0 Big 12) never trailed the Owls (12-6, 0-0 AAC) in this non-conference matchup.

UCF set the precedent offensively early after an RBI single, senior outfielder Carley Jo Penner scoring on a wild pitch and an RBI double from sophomore catcher Beth Damon put the Knights at four runs at the bottom of the first.

After no action for the next two innings, the Owls answered with a two-run homer from FAU sophomore catcher/first basemen Lly Holtje and FAU freshman utility player Lily Lowery scoring from second base unearned, keeping the contest close at 4-3.

The Knights swung for the fences in response as sophomore utility players Kendall Yarnell and Izzy Mertes scored back-to-back home runs at the bottom of the fifth.

FAU sought to rally in the stretch by adding two runs. Still, UCF matched the run count when freshman outfielder Ayala Durant scored off a sacrifice fly, followed by sophomore outfielder Zoe Calvez scoring from second base.

Freshman pitcher Ava Stuewe halted any chance of an FAU recovery, tossing two strikeouts that gave UCF its fourth consecutive win.

Mertes and Damon led the offensive charge for the Knights as the duo recorded two RBIs on two hits by the end of the matchup. Big 12 Freshman of the Week pitcher/outfielder Hildie Dempsey served a firm defense, notching a 1.98 ERA with three strikeouts while yielding three hits and runs after pitching 4.2 innings.

“It was a hard-fought game, we’re just doing anything we can for the team,” Mertes said in the postgame conference. “Having good at-bats and scoring runs is our job, so that’s just what we were both thinking in that situation. I was just trying to be patient in my at-bat and wait for my pitch.”

UCF hits the field straight away to kick off the Charge On Classic with a doubleheader against Dartmouth College Big Green (0-5, 0-0 Ivy League) at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Thursday at the UCF Softball Complex.