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Jun 11, 2023

UCF softball scores 7 unanswered, advances to AAC semifinals

At least one more UCF-USF rivalry matchup is coming, and it’s in softball. After

At least one more UCF-USF rivalry matchup is coming, and it's in softball.

After UCF rallied from behind to advance past Memphis, 7-4, and into the American Athletic Conference tournament semifinals at USF Softball Stadium on Thursday, the Bulls shut out East Carolina 7-0.

No. 2 seed UCF and No. 3 South Florida meet Friday for a spot in the AAC title game (2:30 p.m., ESPN+).

The Knights found themselves trailing 4-0 through 2 1/2 innings after errors helped the No. 7 Tigers to jump ahead quickly in the quarterfinal matchup.

Cindy Ball-Malone's squad responded by scoring 7 unanswered runs, including a 2-run home run from Jasmine Williams in the bottom of the sixth, to put UCF ahead for good.

The Knights (37-19, 15-3 AAC) were able to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third when Jada Cody hit a sacrifice fly that brought home Kennedy Searcy to cut the deficit to three.

UCF put even more pressure on the Tigers the next inning. Sarah Willis broke through with an RBI single to make the score 4-2 before Williams’ sacrifice trimmed the deficit to one entering the fifth.

Willis, who was named AAC pitcher of the year on Wednesday, entered the circle in relief of starter Grace Jewell in the second inning. She pitched the final 5 innings while only allowing 2 hits and an unearned run with a strikeout and 4 walks.

The Knights had eight players record a hit against Memphis. Johneisha Rowe was the lone Knight to record multiple hits as she went 2-for-3 at the plate. UCF finished with just 9 total hits.

The 2-run blast by Williams gave UCF its first lead, 5-4, in the sixth inning.

Freshman Aubrey Evans tacked on 2 more runs in the inning with an RBI single for the final margin.

The Tigers (8-43, 2-16 AAC) managed 3 hits as Linsey Hargis led the way at 1-for-3 with 2 runs scored.

No. 4 Tulsa meets No. 1 Wichita State in the other semifinal, which will be played at noon Friday.

UCF beat USF in three regular-season meetings last month, 2-1, 3-1 and 2-0. The Knights won 2 of 3 vs. Tulsa and lost 2 of 3 with Wichita State.

Email Jason Beede at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @therealBeede.

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