May 10, 2007

Box Score

Photo Gallery

ORLANDO, Fla. - Entering the bottom of the fifth inning, it looked as though Marshall would face the top-seeded Houston Cougars in the Thursday's nightcap of the Conference USA Championship Presented by Coca-Cola. However, momentum (and the lead) quickly changed sides as UCF scored five runs, taking advantage of four Herd errors in the home half of the fifth inning as the Knights squeezed out a 5-3 win.

With the loss, the fifth-seeded Thundering Herd (31-25) will face the loser of game three between No. 2 East Carolina and No. 6 Memphis Friday at 12:30 p.m.

Marshall committed a season- and C-USA Championship game-high seven errors, while the fourth-seeded Knights (36-24) had four miscues.

Senior southpaw Abigail Harter (Monmouth, Ore./Santiam Christian) was dealt the loss, as she was touched for five runs on five hits with four strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. Only one of Harter's (13-15) five runs was earned.

UCF's Allison Kime (22-11) earned the complete-game victory, allowing three runs on five hits, while fanning five batters.

Rachel Folden (Baldwin Park, Calif./Diamond Bar) pacing the Herd offense, going 1-for-4 with a two-RBI double, which was her 200th career hit.

Four different UCF batters recorded a hit with Kacie Feaster going 2-for-4.

After Marshall was retired in order in the visiting half of the first, Harter found herself in a self-induced jam. With one out, CiCi Alvarez reached on the first of two Kristina Knecht (Concord, Calif./Daytona Beach CC) fielding errors. Amber Lamb was then hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second with one out.

Alvarez later advanced to third on a Breanne Javier fielder's choice. However, Harter forced Hillary Barrow to line out to Deanna Tourville (Rescue, Calif./Ponderosa), ending the UCF threat.

Then, came the second inning. Marshall took advantage of timely hitting as the Herd scored three runs to take a 3-0 lead. Gina Guzzo (Virginia Beach, Va./Kempsville) started the single with to shallow right field. Guzzo later advanced to second on a J.J. Bitner (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) with a bunt single.

After a Rachael Sofie (Everett, Wash./Cascade) infield single loaded the bases, Guzzo scored on a Javier throwing error, giving Marshall a 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Folden drilled a two-RBI double to left-center, scoring Sofie and Bitner for a 3-0 Herd cushion.

The Knights finally touched Harter with a double in the third inning, but UCF was unable to push the run across.

UCF put together another scoring threat in the fourth inning, as the Knights reached safely on two Marshall fielding errors. However, as was the case in its previous opportunities, the Knights left runners on base, still trailing the Herd 3-0.

Marshall's three-run lead and its confidence vanished in the UCF half of the fifth inning. With one out, Feaster singled to right field and later advanced to second on a fielding error by Caitlyn Jackson (Ontario, Calif./Pomona Catholic). Lamb followed with an RBI single to centerfield, plating Feaster. Lamb would then reach second on a Bitner throwing error.

Javier would plate Lamb with an RBI single to centerfield, cutting the Marshall lead to one run, 3-2. Kime later drove in the tying run with an RBI single to right field.

After Amanda Luers (Dover, Ohio/Dover) replaced Harter in the circle, UCF pushed across the go-ahead and eventual game-winning runs. A failed pick-off attempt by Folden sailed into left field, allowing Barrow to score the eventual game-winning run. UCF added its fifth run in the frame as Kime came across on a Tourville fielding error.

With the host Knights holding on to a 5-3 lead, Kime did not allow a baserunner past second base as the Knights clinched a date with the Houston Cougars Thursday night.

UCF 5, Marshall 3 (05/10/07 at Orlando, Fla.)
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Marshall............ 030 000 0 -  3  5  7      (31-25)
UCF................. 000 050 X -  5  5  4      (36-24)
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Pitchers: Marshall - Harter, Abigail; LUERS, Amanda(5). UCF - KIME, Allison.
Win-KIME, Allison(22-11)  Loss-HARTER, Abigail(13-15)  T-1:37  A-448