TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Jax State was one out away from a trip to the regional semifinal.
UCF got a two-out RBI single to left in the bottom of the seventh, then got a one-out RBI single in the eighth to come away with a 2-1 victory over the Gamecocks.
Jax State (45-15) will face Florida State (49-9) on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Central Time in an Elimination game at JoAnne Graf Field.
"We came out fighting, and never really capitalized on the other runners that we had on base," said coach
Julie Boland. "On this stage, you have to capitalize in big moments, you have to come through with clutch hits, and we just couldn't seem to get that going today."
Freshman pitcher
Makenna Moore tried to make Makayln Kyser's 11
th homer of the season to lead off the second inning stand as she went 7.1 innings in the circle with six strikeouts and only had one extra base hit against among the eight she allowed.
"I thought (Moore) threw a great game," said Boland. "She went through their lineup four times, so for their hitters to keep seeing her over and over, her adjustments that she was making, she did a great job."
Moore came through multiple times in key spots when the Knights threatened and stranded nine baserunners. UCF (39-16-1) loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth after a walk and consecutive singles, but a fly out to center ended the threat. UCF got a runner to third with one out with a leadoff single that advanced to second on a throwing error, then to third on a sacrifice bunt. A fly ball to left wasn't deep enough to tie the game, and a ground ball back to Moore ended that threat.
Kyser was walked in the two plate appearances following her homer, and also had a key defensive play in the second by throwing out a runner at second after a strikeout for an inning-ending double play to keep momentum going into the third.
Jaci Underwood reached base twice with a second-inning walk and a double to lead off the seventh.
Ashley Phillips,
Kailey Martin, and
Amber Reed all added hits to the effort.
