• Final stats

ORLANDO, Fla. – The UCF Knights lost the second game of a mid-week double-header and their second game in a row, as they fell 7-1 to the Georgia Southern Eagles Wednesday afternoon at the UCF Softball Complex.

UCF (17-11) lost to the University of Texas at San Antonio 2-0 in the first leg of the double-header, as the Roadrunners started with two first-inning runs.

The previous loss carried over to the second game, as the Knights allowed Georgia Southern (17-7) get an early lead. The Eagles struck in the first inning after a miscommunication in the infield between second baseman Aubrey Johnson and first baseman Jazmine Esparza gave way to Georgia Southern’s first run of the game.

“[Communication’s] something we gotta work on in practice for the next few days,” Knights head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie said after the loss.

Starter Kamryn Toney (2-3) struggled in her outing, as Georgia Southern tagged on three more runs in the second inning, increasing its lead to 4-0. In total, Toney pitched 2.0 innings, allowing three earned runs on eight hits and a walk. She also added two strikeouts.

Eagles starter Kierra Camp (9-4) pitched a complete game, allowing one earned run on eight hits and four walks. She added three strikeouts.

After surrendering another run in the top of the fourth, UCF scored its lone run in the bottom frame.

Johnson started the effort with a lead-off double. One batter later, Esparza placed runners on the corners, as she singled to left field to advance Johnson to third. Left fielder Kyra Klarkowski, then, reached first on a bunt, driving in Johnson from third.

The Knights loaded the bases after Klarkowski stole second and catcher Alyssa Oakes drew a walk, but the Eagles’ defense limited UCF to its one run with heads-up plays at home.

In the next two at-bats, shortstop Erin Emanuel and right fielder Denali Schappacher reached base on fielder’s choices. However, that forced Esparza and Klarkowski to run home, where they were ultimately thrown out by third baseman Hannah Farrell.

“It felt good to score in that inning, and, when the bases were loaded, we were confident we would comeback. We just [couldn’t] put it all together,” Johnson said after the loss.

The Eagles added a run in each of the fifth and sixth innings, as Macy Coleman homered over the right-field wall in the sixth.

Who’s Next?

The Knights will have a week-long break before playing at home again in a double-header against Princeton University on March 21. Game 1 starts at 4 p.m.

For more on the Knights, as they prepare for the Tigers, follow Carl-Max Millionard on Twitter at @cmillionard3.