ORLANDO - Illinois softball closed out the Black and Gold Classic with 4-0 loss to UCF on Sunday afternoon.
The Fighting Illini moved to 1-4 on the young season while the Knights improved to 5-1.
Lauren Wiles got the start in the circle, taking the loss to drop to 1-1 on the year. The senior tossed 1.2 innings, allowing four runs, all unearned, on four hits. Danika Frazier pitched 4.1 innings in relief allowing just one hit. Offensively, Gabrielle Debevec, Ava Moore and Alaina Miller each earned singles in the contest.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UCF took an early 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second following a two-out rally.
The bats struggled for the Fighting Illini with the team's most productive inning coming in the fifth when Debevec and Moore posting back-to-back singles. However, the team was unable to produce a run in the frame.
Needing a rally in the top of the seventh, the Orange and Blue went down in order, closing out the 4-0 shutout.
UP NEXT
Illinois heads to Tennessee State for a tournament from Feb. 14-16.
NOTES
» Illinois dropped to 0-3 all-time against the Knights.
» The Fighting Illini dropped to 0-2 in shutouts.
» The Illini went 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position
» Illinois wore white jerseys, for the first time this season.
