• Final stats

ORLANDO, Fla. – It was a poor hitting day for the UCF Knights (17-10), who lost to the University of Texas at San Antonio (13-10) 2-0 to start a double-header at the UCF Softball Complex on March 14.

Sophomore Alea White (12-7) was the lone pitcher for the Knights. She allowed two earned runs on six hits and three walks while striking out a career-high 10 batters.

White has now lost two of her last three games after winning six straight.

UT-San Antonio also only used one pitcher: senior Lizzy Fox (8-4). She struck out two batters, walked one and held UCF scoreless with six hits.

White started the game with a strikeout but then walked outfielder Bailee Baldwin and freshman Victoria Villarreal. Both ultimately scored two-out runs off RBIs by sophomore Rylee Rodriguez, who doubled to left-center field, and second baseman Hailey Garza, who singled to right, to give the Roadrunners a 2-0 advantage.

The game remained scoreless the rest of the way, though, as both pitchers combined for four 1-2-3 half-innings.

UCF, however, nearly evaded its shutout in the fourth inning.

The Knights started the fourth inning with two outs but ended up with bases loaded after base hits by freshman Kaitlyn Jensen and sophomore Aubrey Johnson and a walk by Cassady Brewer. Sophomore Kyra Klarkowski, then, flied out to left field to end the inning, ending the Knights’ greatest scoring chance of the game.

First baseman Jazmine Esparza tied her season-high in hits and hit her fourth double of the season, as she and Johnson went 2-for-3 on the day. She started the fifth with a base hit to the shortstop and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and groundout. Pinch hitter Tamesha Glover ultimately struck out for the Knights to end the inning.

In the seventh, Esparza put herself in scoring position, again, with a two-out double. Ultimately, the effort was in vain, as Hayley Bejarano flew out to end the inning.

The Knights had scored a run in 20-straight games before their 2-0 loss. This is the third shutout the Knights have played in.

Who’s Next?

UCF plays Georgia Southern University for the second game of its double-header at 3:30 p.m.

For more on the Knights, as they continue their double-header with the Georgia Southern Eagles, follow Nick Santiago on Twitter at @NickSantiagoUCF.