Hot bats help strong finish

The softball team finished the Courtyard Marriott Invitational 2-2 overall, defeating Illinois of Chicago 4-3 and Delaware 4-1. The Knights fell short to Notre Dame 5-3 and Miami (Oh.) 6-5.

Junior pitcher Lacey Dinney came away with the win for UCF against UIC on Friday afternoon. Dinney allowed six hits and three runs.

Dinney had a slow first inning, coming back strong through the sixth.

"It was good to be able to finish out our home tournament with a win tonight," said head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie. "This weekend showed us what we need to work on to get better and win games, but closing out with the victory will really help our confidence going into Wednesday's game at Florida A&M."

Even though UIC struck first scoring two runs in the first inning, UCF came back scoring three runs in the fourth.

Sophomore first baseman Marissa Menendez scored the first run for UCF after junior Kellie Todd singled up the middle. Sophomore Patrice Fee hit a two-run homer, to give the Knights a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth.

In the bottom of the fifth, junior third baseman Allie Jest reached on a throwing error and collided with the second baseman. She was taken out of the game and did not return.

Jest was replaced by Ashley Schmitt for the remainder of the tournament, who scored the next at-bat; a double, hit by senior outfielder Tawny Swan.

UCF continued the tournament going up against Notre Dame. The Knights took the lead but fell short in the end closing the day out 1-1.

Fee had two RBIs against Notre Dame, but it wasn't enough to ensure a win for the Knights. Fee hit a double in the bottom of the fourth putting UCF on top 3-1.

"It's exciting because you know [Fee] has such a solid swing," Luers-Gillispie said. "She was struggling out in California and not seeing the pitches very well and we had to make a decision on who was going to have the best opportunity to make a change in that game, she has such a hard swing and soft swing that we felt that she would have to be the one we put in that situation."

In the top of the fifth, Notre Dame fought back scoring four and the Knight's offense struggled to get anymore runs, leaving the Fighting Irish with a win.

Fielding errors cost the Knights their third game against Miami (OH).

Menendez went 2 for 3 with two RBIs, one run scored and a walk. Fee had another strong game with a triple and two RBIs for the Knights. Star shortstop Tiffany Lane had a pair of hits and scored a run, as well.

Dinney came away with the loss for UCF falling 1-3 on the year. She allowed six runs, three earned, on four hits with two walks and a strikeout in 3.2 innings pitched.

Senior pitcher Diana Rojas held the Red Hawks, striking out two and only giving up four hits.

In game two on Saturday, the Knights came up on top beating Delaware to close out the tournament. Swan came out on top going 3 for 3 at the plate with a double, triple, a sacrifice fly and an RBI.

"Tawny has just looked so confident at the plate all weekend," Luers-Gillispie said. "She is so good at reading the defense and has the arsenal to do almost anything and she is showing that right now."

Rojas started for the Knights and earned the win; she allowed one run on six hits with a strikeout in 5.0 innings. Freshman reliever Haley Douglas picked up her first save in two innings, allowing one hit and striking out two.

The Knights travel to Tallahassee on Wednesday to take on the FAMU at 6 p.m.