DeLand, Fla. ? UCF catcher Lindsay Dean homered to right center with one out in the top of the sixth to break a 3-3 tie and push the Knights (19-21) to a 4-3 victory over the Stetson softball team (20-21) Wednesday at Patricia Wilson Field. The Hatters have now lost seven consecutive games. Senior left fielder Amanda Bailey (Destin, Fla.) went two for three with an RBI and two doubles and sophomore right fielder Rachel Lowe (Okeechobee, Fla.) hit her fourth home run of the season to lead the Hatter offense.
UCF jumped ahead 2-0 on Abby McClain's two-run home run to right field off Stetson junior starting pitcher Amanda Lindsey (Byhalia, Miss.) in the top of the second. The Hatters came back to tie it in the bottom of the third on Bailey's RBI double and a two-out Knight error that scored freshman pinch runner Jillian Masucci (Port Orange, Fla.)
The Knights struck right back in the top of the fourth with a two-out rally that featured first baseman Breanne Javier smacking an RBI double over Bailey's head in left field to give the visitors a 3-2 advantage. Lowe knotted the score up again as she led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo shot to left center field off UCF starter Kristina DiMello. Lowe was playing in her first game at Patricia Wilson Field since suffering a facial injury against Kentucky on February 27.
Senior relief pitcher Erica Demers (Miami, Fla.) was unable to capitalize, however, giving up Dean's one-out shot, her second of the season in the sixth. Demers settled down and kept UCF off the scoreboard the rest of the way but the damage was done.
Bailey led off the bottom of the sixth with a ground-rule double on a controversial play in which the home plate umpire originally signaled home run but reversed his decision in a conference with his colleague. The ball appeared to be trapped in an advertising banner as it was initially unclear whether McClain had caught the ball in deep left field or if it had gone over the fence entirely. Bailey was summoned back to second base and the Hatters left her stranded at third. Stetson also put runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the seventh only to see Lindsey ground into a 4-4-3 game-ending double play.
Demers suffered her 11th loss of the year after giving up two runs on seven hits and two walks in four innings, striking out four. Lindsey allowed two runs on three hits and a walk with three strikeouts in three innings to start the game. Ashleigh Cole pitched three shutout innings of three-hit ball to earn the win for the Knights. Javier and McClain had two hits each to lead UCF offensively.
The Hatters now embark on a 10-game A-Sun road swing, beginning Saturday at 2008 A-Sun tournament champions Campbell. The doubleheader begins at 12 p.m.; Hatter Vision subscribers can log into their accounts to watch the simulcast of Campbell's Fighting Camel Zone webcast. Live Stats are also available at GoHatters.com and GoCamels.com.
