March 8, 2003
FURMAN SOFTBALL SHUTS OUT INDIANA, FALLS TO UCF IN EXTRA INNINGS
SUMMERVILLE, S.C. -- Central Florida's Stephanie Best went 4-for-4, including the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning, to lead UCF to a 3-2 win over Furman at Charleston Southern's Hampton Inn/Quality Suites Invitational in Summerville, S.C., Saturday night. The Lady Paladins opened play on Saturday with a 3-0 victory over the Indiana Hoosiers.
In the night cap, Furman rallied from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game at 2-2. With runners on second and third in the top of the fifth, Carolina Evans grounded out to second to score Kristen White from third. Leftfielder Jessica Matthews followed with a two-out RBI double to left field.
After stranding Matthews at third in the eighth, UCF placed runners on first and second with no one out. Best's single scored Nikki Greene for the game-winning run.
Taylor Sawyer (7-5) took the win for UCF, tossing a complete game. Furman's Rachel Henley suffered the loss to fall to 2-4 on the season. Henley allowed two earned runs over seven-plus innings of work.
In the morning opener, Furman's Meagen Johnson (2-4) tossed a complete game shutout as Furman (5-8) upended Indiana 3-0. Johnson surrendered only six hits in seven innings. The Georgetown, S.C., native struck out five Hoosiers while walking only two.
Furman got all the runs it would need in the bottom half of the third. Ali McNulty led off the inning by lacing a double off the right centerfield fence. Kristen Arnold pinch ran for McNulty. Arnold advanced to third on a ground out by JoDee Eichelberger and scored when White reached on a fielder's choice with one out.
After White was thrown out at second when LaKerah Barr reached on a fielder's choice, Evans single up the middle and an error by Indiana's centerfielder allowed Barr to score to give Furman a 2-0 lead.
Furman capped the scoring in the fifth. McNulty led off the inning with a single. Karissa King, pinch running for McNulty, moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a ground out. With two outs, Barr looped a single down the right field line to score King.
Katie Witham took the loss for Indiana allowing three runs over four innings of work.
Furman returns to action Sunday morning with a doubleheader. The Lady Paladins open the second day of the Hampton Inn/Quality Suites Invitational with a 9:00 a.m. contest with Savannah State before battling Tennessee Tech at 11:00.