JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Two of the best arms in the region went up against each other Wednesday, April 6 from the UNF Softball Complex as UCF righty Gianna Mancha squared off with
Halle Arends in a quintessential pitcher's duel. When the final out was recorded, North Florida softball (29-11) was just a run short as it fell to No. 20 UCF (31-10), 2-1, despite Arends' stellar effort and a clean sheet on the defensive end.
UCF scored a run in the first and one in the third, while North Florida etched in its lone run in the bottom of the third on a
Paige Pfent sac fly.
Plays at the plate could have turned the tide on the outcome, as UCF's Jady Cody scored the eventual game-winning run in the third by just a fraction of a second, sliding past the tag. Meanwhile, UNF was cut down at the plate attempting to even things up in the bottom half of that inning on a grounder to third base and
Kayla Harper at third.
#20 UCF 2, UNF 1
Pitchers of Record
Win: Gianna Mancha (13-3)
Loss:
Halle Arends (12-3)
Line Scores
UCF | 2R, 3H, 0E, 6 LOB
UNF | 1R, 3H, 0E, 4 LOB
Behind the Line Score
- A two-out walk led to a two-out RBI double from UCF's Shannon Doherty in the first for a 1-0 UCF lead.
- Kayla Harper opened the first with a single but she was stranded at second.
- Hayley Bejarano drew a leadoff walk and Maggie Trgo pinch ran for her, reaching third base, but UCF made a pair of solid plays on defense to strand her.
- UCF's Jady Cody doubled and eventually scored on single, sliding just past Ashley Goebel's glove for a 2-0 Knights lead in the third.
- Takiya London's wheels did the trick in the third, getting UNF one run. She legged out a single, took second on an attempt to get her off a grounder and eventually scored on a sac fly.
- Shannon Glover's two-out single in the sixth was the lone hit the rest of the way for either team as the pitchers were dialed in.
- UCF starter Mancha came away with the win, spinning the complete game while Arends was the hard-luck loser.
Statistical Leaders
UCF
- Jady Cody | 1-for-2, 2R, 2B
- Shannon Doherty | 1-for-2, RBI, 2B
- Ashleigh Griffin | 1-for-2, RBI, BB
UNF
Notes
- There were no extra-base hits for UNF and just two for UCF.
- The Ospreys had four base runners while UCF had eight.
- Arends ERA still sits at a miniscule 1.21.
- This was the 22nd meeting between the two teams.
- Hayley Bejarano and Takiya London were both on UCF last year before transferring in from UCF.
- Bejarano played against her cousin, Maddie Bejarano, who was in left field for UCF.
- Arends spun her 12th quality start of the season.
- It was UNF's fourth game against a ranked team, all of which have come against in-state foes.
Up Next
UNF goes across town to face Jacksonville in a three-game set beginning Saturday.