ORLANDO, Fla. – The Rutgers softball team closed out its trip to Florida on Tuesday with a pair of setbacks to UCF in doubleheader action at the UCF Softball Complex.
The host Knights won game one 3-0 and took the second game 5-1.
UCF receiving votes in the USA Today/NFCA and ESPN/USA Softball Polls.
The Scarlet Knights move to 17-10 on the season and return home for its first home games at the Rutgers Softball Complex of the season this weekend at the Rutgers Tournament starting Friday.
UCF 3, Rutgers 0
- Raimy Gamsby went the distance and gave up only one extra-base hit in her six innings of work. She dropped to 5-3 on the year.
- Morgan Smith and Kiersten Withstandley collected base hits to break up the no-hitter going into the seventh inning.
- The hosts took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, The bases were loaded for a fielder's choice by Olivia Elliot to the infield. Rutgers tried to catch Kennedy Searcy at the plate, but the UCF base runner beat out the throw. The Scarlet Knights, however, stopped a run from scoring at home on the next play and ended the inning without further scoring from UCF.
- UCF extended to a 2-0 advantage in the fourth. On a tough play in shallow left, Micaela Macario dropped the ball in allowing Rowe to score from second base.
- A squeeze play put UCF up 3-0. The Knights had runners in scoring position with two outs in the sixth when Jasmine Williams bunted to third giving Rowe the opportunity to reach home.
- Morgan Smith broke up the no-hitter with one out in the seventh. Kiersten Withstandley gave the Scarlet Knights another base hit, but Smith was caught at third in trying to take the extra base.
UCF 5, Rutgers 1
- Rutgers was the first team to score in the second game getting on the board in the third inning. While a Payton Lincavage fielder's choice to the infield stopped Kiersten Withstandley at the plate, the play helped get Kyleigh Sand to third who went on to score on a wild pitch. The Scarlet Knights attempted to sneak another run in on a steal, but Morgan Smith was caught in the rundown between first and second before Lincavage could touch home plate.
- UCF tied the game up in the bottom half on a Jasmine Williams single to right with two aboard and a fielder's choice sac bunt was able to push in a pair of runs for the Knights to take the 3-1 lead. Chloe Evans laid down the bunt towards third with Williams ruled safe at the plate. As the Scarlet Knights looked to stop Evans from taking second after the score, Burge scored from third avoiding the tag.
- The host Knights added to its lead in the fifth. Evans tripled off the wall in left and scored off a wild pitch for UCF to go up 5-1.
- Kyleigh Sand moved into a tie for sixth on the career stolen base list with 45 steals. She needs seven more to move into a tie for fourth alongside All-American Carla Camino (1990-93) and ten more to tie Loren Williams (2013-14) for third.
Rutgers softball concluded the Bubly Invitational on Sunday. The Scarlet Knights face host No. 8/10 Florida. The game time has been moved back to 2 p.m. from its original noon start.
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