The UCF Knights (9-6) defeated Jacksonville University (8-7) 5-3 in the last day of the Green and Gold Classic in Jacksonville on Feb. 25.
Sophomore Alea White (6-5) earned her sixth win of the season, pitching all 7.0 innings for the Knights with three strikeouts, allowing three earned runs on eight hits and two walks.
White helped UCF solidify the two-run victory, allowing no hits in the last two innings. Four of Jacksonville’s final six outs were groundouts to the shortstop.
Seana Mora (1-4) pitched the whole game for the Dolphins with two strikeouts, giving up earned runs on three hits and two walks. Mora replaced starter Alyssa Bilodeau after Bilodeau hit Denali Schappacher with her first pitch and gave up three RBIs over her next three.
UCF scored early, as Schappacher and senior Megan Greenwell scored off a single up the middle from sophomore Aubrey Johnson. Johnson then scored off a double from infielder Kaitlyn Jensen to put the Knights up 3-0.
Johnson led the way for the Knights, hitting a team-high two hits with two RBIs and a run with no strikeouts.
Senior Heather Roberts doubled to right-center field to drive in Danielle Baker for a 3-3 tie in the fifth, but the Knights had their own senior ready to take back the lead.
Third baseman Courtney Rotton came up clutch for the Knights in the sixth inning, sending a two-run, lead-taking home run to left field, allowing pinch runner Kendyl Lange.
The Knights finished the weekend with a 3-2 record, the same record they finished with in their first five-game tournament, the Friends of Jaclyn Invitational in Longwood.
Who’s Next?
The Knights play the San Diego State Aztecs next in the San Diego Classic I on Thursday at 9:00 p.m.
For more on the Knights, as they prepare for another trip away from home, follow Nick Santiago on Twitter at @NickSantiagoUCF.
