The Cougars’ undefeated status in Conference USA play came to an end Sunday when they fell to the University of Central Florida 4-6.
"It is unrealistic to expect perfection," head coach Kyla Holas said. "I will definitely use this (loss) all week as a motivation factor for this team to work hard and make adjustments."
After being postponed because of rain Saturday, Sunday’s game opened in the middle of the first inning. The Knights took the plate for the bottom of the first and ran away with it, putting five runs on the board.
The Knights scored their first run off of freshman pitcher Baillie Lott on a bases-loaded walk.
"(Lott) was not ready to play and then did not respond to the situations like we would have liked," Holas said.
Four more runs came in with Lott in the circle, including an RBI single from Knights’ senior Allison Kime and a two-run single from Knights’ senior Ashley Van Ryn before Holas made a pitching change. Senior Angel Shamblin replaced Lott with one out remaining in the inning.
"I am upset that we had to use (Shamblin)," Holas said. "That is a good way to lose a pitcher; (overusing) them this late in the season. We are trying to make a run at postseason and you cannot get very far if your number one is worn out."
With Shamblin pitching, Kime homered in the bottom of the third to increase the Knights’ lead to 6-0.
Houston rallied in the top of the fifth, scoring three runs. Junior infielder Jessica Valis hit an RBI double and scored when senior catcher Elaina Nordstrom grounded out to the shortstop.
Senior outfielder Katie Bush scored on a throwing error by UCF third baseman Hillary Barrow.
With two innings to go, and down 6-3, the Cougars scored only one run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly from freshman infielder Christa Raley before the end of the game. Shamblin pitched five innings, giving up three hits and one run and striking out seven.
In Saturday’s game against the Knights, UH took the lead in the top of the second with RBI singles from senior outfielder Laurie Wagner and Shamblin.
The Knights tried to fight back in the fifth with an RBI double from UCF freshman Abby Mclain, but they were only able to put one that run on the board.
UH solidified the win in the top of the seventh with an RBI single from junior second baseman Haley Valis, who later scored, and a two-run single from Nordstrom, which scored Raley and Jessica Valis.
"We had a strong pitching performance and more offense throughout the lineup," Holas said.
Shamblin pitched the entire game, striking out six and giving up five hits.
UH will face Team USA at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Memorial Park.
"Monday will be a day off for us," Holas said. "(Then) we get to have a practice game against the best in the world. We are going to let everyone play and compete against the last Olympic Team."
