Central Florida vs. Washington | Puerto Vallarta College Challenge
In the first of two games Friday, the #5 Washington Huskies stymied the UCF Knights, winning 3-1. Taran Alves dominated throughout, striking out ten in her second consecutive complete-game victory. Offensively, Taryn Atlee, Kaija Gibson, and Emma Helm all had multiple hits, with Helm hitting her first home run of the season.
UCF took an early lead with a first-inning run, but couldn't create anything else against Alvelo. After putting four runners on base that inning, UCF managed only three more hits all game.
Washington's offense awoke later in the game again, scoring in back-to-back innings to tie the game and take the lead soon thereafter. Six Huskies had hits in the game.
- First Inning: UCF struck first, putting the leadoff runner on via walk, then scoring them on a single two batters later.
- Fifth Inning: Atlee's second hit of the day tied the game up, bringing Kaija Gibson, who had led off the inning with a walk.
- Sixth Inning: Helm's first home run of the year went deep to right center, putting Washington on top for good. Amirah Milloy's single past the second baseman added an insurance run, making it 3-1.
- Alvelo (7.0 IP, 1 R, 11 K) won her 80th career game, making her the eighth Husky to do so.
- This was Alvelo's 17th career double-digit strikeout game.
- Atlee (2x4, R) kept her season-long hitting streak alive and now has multiple hits in each of the last four games.
- SilentRain Espinoza (1x1) has hits in four of her five games, only going hitless as a pinch hitter against #12 Arkansas.