UCF Knights Softball Improves Overall Record to 19-6 After Defeating No. 24 Ranked South Carolina

By  //  March 23, 2021

After dropping the first two games of the series to No. 24 South Carolina on Saturday, the No. 20 Knights bounced back in a big way on Sunday, posting 10 runs on 14 hits to take down the Gamecocks, 10-4, at their place. (UCF Knights image)

ORLANDO, FLORIDA – After dropping the first two games of the series to No. 24 South Carolina on Saturday, the No. 20 Knights bounced back in a big way on Sunday, posting 10 runs on 14 hits to take down the Gamecocks, 10-4, at their place.

The win moved UCF to 19-6 on the season.

“It’s always important to end the weekend on a high note,” said head coach Cindy Ball-Malone. “We want to have that momentum going into our next contest and getting these games under our belt is nice as we head into the next phase of our schedule.”

The Knights jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning courtesy of a Georgia Blair solo shot in the top of the first.

The home run marked Blair’s ninth on the season, tying her for first place in The American in that regard. She now also leads the league in RBI, walks, and total bases.

The black and gold tacked on two more runs in the top of the third before South Carolina answered back with two of their own to make it a 3-2 game. That score would remain until UCF posted a monster six-run fifth inning that included four hits and four walks to go up 9-3 over the Gamecocks.

“I loved how the bottom of our lineup produced some runs for us and passed it on to the top of our lineup. It was awesome to see,” continued Ball-Malone.

“We played loose and we played our game. We’re doing a better job of learning to stay the course instead of riding the ups and downs.”

The Knights would add on to their lead in the seventh with another run while the Gamecocks would try to battle back by adding two more runs of their own, but it wouldn’t be enough as the Knights would go on to win 10-4.

In the circle for UCF, Alea White was called on the start. White tossed 4.2 innings, allowing two earned on four hits and two walks while striking out six.

With the win, she moves to 10-1 on the season. Following White out of the bullpen was Gianna Mancha, who contributed with 2.1 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) and striking out a pair.

The win marked the Knights’ second over a top 25 team after UCF also took down No. 2 Arizona, 2-0, at the UCF Softball Complex on March 8.

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