Softball falls 8-1 to No. 8 Gators

Coming off the softball team's first Conference USA sweep against Marshall, the Knights (18-25, 8-7) were defeated by No. 8 Gators (38-7, 13-6) 8-1 in Gainesville Wednesday night.

Lacey Dinney (10-8) received the loss for the Knights giving up eight runs off eight hits with eight errors and four strikeouts in six innings pitched.

Dinney was up against UF pitcher Hannah Rogers (23-5) who gave up no runs, three hits and one error with two strikeouts in 4.2 innings pitched.

The Gators got on board in the first inning when Dinney walked second baseman Aja Paculba and left fielder Kelsey Bruder tripled to center field scoring Paculba. In the next at bat right fielder Brittany Schutte hit a sacrifice fly ball to left field scoring Bruder.

Tiffany Lane lead off the second inning with a single up the middle and then Lane stole second. Tawny Swan drove in the first run for the Knights with a double to left field scoring Lane.

Allie Jest posted a single to shortstop in the third inning, but after Jest advanced to second, she was caught stealing and out at third.

UF struck hard in the bottom of the third, Dinney gave up a single bunt by Moultrie and Fee had a throwing error which advanced the runner to second. Bruder walked and Moultrie advanced to third on another passed ball.

To add three more runs; Schutte homered to right center scoring Bruder and Moultrie.

Tiffany DeFelice singled to left field, but the Knights were able to end the inning without giving up anymore runs.

Third baseman Kasey Fagan posted the second homerun of the game in the bottom of the fourth for the Gators and Bruder followed with a two-run homer scoring Paculba.

The Knights came up short in stopping the Gators' booming offense and scoring runs.

UCF will travel to Memphis, Tenn., Friday for a three-game C-USA series against the Tigers.