Knights softball earns first C-USA sweep of season vs. Marshall

The Knights (18-24, 8-7 C-USA) earned their first C-USA sweep against the Marshall Thundering Herd (15-27, 1-13 C-USA) with a 10-6 win Sunday afternoon.

"Being able to sweep Marshall this weekend was really huge for us," head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said. "It not only improved our record to over .500 in conference, but it was a huge confidence builder for us heading down the stretch. The players were able to step up when they needed to and continued to fight the entire game, and I think that shows how bad they want to win."

Lacey Dinney who replaced Diana Rojas in the third inning earned the win for UCF.

Dinney gave up one run off three hits with three strikeouts in 4.1 innings pitched; Rojas pitched 2.2 innings and gave up five runs off six hits with one strikeout.

The Knights were up 6-5 when the final run for Marshall came in the fifth inning, but they were unable to catch up after the Knights posted four more runs in the bottom of the fifth.

The Knights took game one and two against Marshall during the Saturday afternoon C-USA doubleheader.

Allie Jest and Natalie Land struck big for UCF posting three hits a piece for the Knights. Jest scored two runs with no strikeouts and Land had a run as well.

Marissa Menendez had a hit and RBI, Kellie Todd had a RBI and Tiffany Lane scored one run off one hit for the Knights.

UCF had eight total hits and only three batters struck out for the Knights in the 5-4 win against Marshall.

Rojas received the win for the Knights and gave up four runs, off eight hits in seven innings with one strikeout.

The game was close until the seventh inning when Marshall scored two runs off two hits, but it wasn't enough to take the win after the Knights posted two more runs off two hits in the bottom of the inning.

The Knights took the second game of the double header against Marshall to extra innings in the 6-5 win against the Thundering Herd.

Ashley Schmitt  gave up one run off four hits in eight innings pitched after replacing Dinney. Dinney was taken out of the game after giving up four runs off three hits in the first inning.

This was the first win of the season for the senior pitcher Schmitt. UCF had 11 hits in eight innings and the Thundering Herd was only able to strikeout five Knights.

"They are learning now to be patient, to trust each other and the hitter behind them," Luers-Gillispie said. "To do the little things right and you saw that in both games."

Notes

— Catcher Abby McClain is hurt and was replaced by Patrice Fee in the series.

— Pitcher Haley Douglas was also a pinch hitter and scored two runs for the Knights.