News Summary
The UCF Knights softball team faced a tough elimination from the Big 12 Tournament after a 4-3 loss to the Arizona Wildcats. Despite an early lead and a standout home run from Aubrey Evans, the Wildcats rallied in the later innings to secure the win. This marks a significant improvement for the Knights from previous seasons as they concluded the tournament with a strong performance overall. The Knights now await the NCAA Selection Show to see if they qualify for the national tournament.
Oklahoma City – The UCF Knights softball team was eliminated from the Big 12 Tournament after a close 4-3 loss to the No. 2-seeded Arizona Wildcats in the quarterfinals. Despite an early lead, the Knights could not maintain their advantage, wrapping up their tournament run in a hard-fought match.
UCF started strong, scoring two runs in the second inning. The Knights capitalized on errors from the Wildcats, including a crucial RBI single and a fielder’s choice that put them ahead. The momentum continued into the third inning when Aubrey Evans led off with a remarkable solo home run, pushing the Knights’ lead to 3-0.
Arizona, however, responded in the fourth inning with a run from Sydney Stewart, cutting into UCF’s lead. The tide turned in the fifth inning when Dakota Kennedy hit a sacrifice fly, reducing the deficit to one run. Following this, Devyn Netz, named the Big 12 Player of the Year, entered as a relief pitcher for Arizona, ultimately securing the win for her team. She effectively held UCF to just one run on three hits during her appearance on the mound and knocked in a two-run single that gave Arizona a decisive 4-3 lead.
UCF’s starting pitcher, Isabella Vega, initially showed strong performance, limiting Arizona’s offense to only two hits and one run through the first four innings. However, she struggled as the game progressed, unable to contain the Wildcats’ offensive momentum. This was the Knights’ first time competing past the first round in the Big 12 Tournament, as they had previously experienced an early exit in 2022.
The Knights concluded the season with a record of 33 wins, 22 losses, and 1 tie (33-22-1) and finished with a 12-12 record in the Big 12 conference. This season marked a significant improvement for UCF as they seek to establish a stronger presence in collegiate softball.
The NCAA Selection Show will take place on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET, during which UCF will discover whether they qualify for the NCAA Softball Tournament. The Knights will be looking to leverage their strong season performance to earn a spot in the national competition.
Going forward, head coach Cindy Ball-Malone emphasized the importance of improving base running and making adjustments necessary for the team’s continued development. Additionally, Evans’ home run marked a personal milestone, bringing her total to ten for the season, making her the first UCF player to achieve double-digit home runs in a season since 2022.
As the Knights look to build on their successes and address their shortcomings, the upcoming NCAA Selection Show will define the next steps for this promising team.
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Additional Resources
- Arizona Desert Swarm
- KVOA News
- Black and Gold Banneret
- Wikipedia: Softball
- Google Search: UCF softball
