In both of their wins on Saturday and Sunday, the Cougars didn’t take the lead until the seventh inning. | Justin Tijerina/ The Daily Cougar
After trailing by four runs against UCF at the top of the fourth inning, the Cougars orchestrated a 5-4 comeback on Sunday. With the win, the Cougars won the series 2-1 and started conference play on a good note.
Throughout the series, the Cougars struggled in the beginning of each game. They allowed at least one run in the first inning each time. However, in the two games they did win, they took the lead in the last possible moment in the seventh inning.
In the first game on Friday, the Cougars couldn’t make the comeback. They started on a good note with two runs in the top of the first, but then immediately allowed three runs in the bottom of the first. UCF sealed the deal in the third inning with two runs, taking the lead at 5-3. Neither team scored again, and UCF took the opening game.
On the offensive side of the ball, redshirt sophomore centerfielder Sarah Barker led with three hits for one run scored.
Fortunes turned for the Cougars on Saturday, but not until the seventh inning. The Cougars went scoreless in the first inning, but in the bottom of the first, UCF put up five runs to take a commanding lead. The Cougars didn’t answer back until the seventh inning when they topped off the night with eight runs of the own to win 11-5.
Sophomore Savannah Heebner pitched the entire afternoon. Even though she hit UCF players 15 times, she racked up 6 strikeouts and even batted a runner in.
Freshman second baseman Arielle James and sophomore designated player Maya Thomas led the offense. James led with in hits with three and added two runs to the score. Thomas impressed all around with three RBIs, a run of her own, and a double.
The game on Sunday was the closest of them all. After going scoreless in the first three innings, the Cougars inched their way forward and took the lead with two runs in the seventh inning to win at 5-4.
Freshman Trystan Melancon put up the most impressive pitching performance of the series. She pitched for only five innings and put up seven strikeouts, hit only one player and allowed zero runs.
The Cougars return home to play McNeese on Wednesday at Cougar Softball Stadium at 5:30 p.m. Next weekend, they travel to play Texas in a double-header Sunday.
