UCF softball has proven one thing throughout its season so far.
Give the offense a chance to string together hits and it can put up a lot of runs in a hurry. And with Shelby Turnier in the circle, the Knights do not need much of a cushion to win.
With Tulsa, one of the three favorites to win the American Conference this year, there was going to be some push and pull again. The Knights would have to wait for their opportunity and take advantage.
In two wins to open the series, the Knights found the sixth inning to be that time to strike. And did enough in each outing to secure the win.
On Friday, the Knights scored three times in the sixth to get some needed breathing room on their way to a 4-1 win. On Saturday, they scored three times in the sixth inning once again to break a tie and win 4-1.
The pair of 4-1 wins help establish UCF as the early team to beat in the American Conference.
Turnier went for the complete game on Friday, totaling seven strikeouts while giving up four hits. Jamie Ujvari went the first five innings Saturday giving up five hits and one run before Turnier closed the game out in the final two innings.
Willow Kalinen went 1 for 3 with two RBIs in Friday’s game and followed it up going 1 for 3 again Saturday with a run. Cassady Brewer made the most of her lone at bat with a 2-RBI hit. She had two walks in the game too.
The Knights have been good all year at scratching out hits and building momentum with small ball. They continued to do that with Turnier and Ujvari providing good innings in the circle.
UCF has improved to 3-0 in the conference after last week’s series with UConn was cut short due to weather. The Knights finish their series with the Golden Hurricane on Sunday at the UCF Softball Complex.
