She has produced a 1.45 ERA through her first 91.2 innings of work entering UCF’s weekend series against Houston, a mark that would rank ninth-lowest in a single season in program history, as well as the third-lowest in the Big 12 Conference overall and 12th in the nation. Her glistening 1.45 ERA is accompanied by six complete games, four shutouts, one save, 85 strikeouts and a .196 batting average-against.
Vega, who has already garnered one Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Week award this season, enters UCF’s weekend series ranking among conference leaders in shutouts (T-2nd), ERA (3rd), fewest hits allowed per seven innings (4.89, 4th), WHIP (0.96, 4th), strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.54, 5th), complete games (6th), strikeouts per seven innings (6.5, T-6th), and fewest walks allowed per seven innings (1.83, 8th).
She has played an integral role in many of UCF’s biggest wins this season, highlighted by her seven-inning complete game shutout against then-No. 3 Florida March 26, handing the Gators their first shutout loss of the year and becoming the first freshman pitcher to throw a seven-inning shutout against Florida since NiJaree Canady in the 2023 NCAA Stanford Regional.
Vega’s seven scoreless innings against then-No. 15 Missouri Feb. 11 were instrumental in allowing her team time to complete the largest comeback against a ranked opponent in program history, 6-5 in eight innings, and she most recently tossed five innings of two-run ball against the Stetson Hatters April 23 as the Knights pulled off the largest overall comeback in program history in their 14-13 road win.
The Bradenton native also turned in 5.1 innings with just two earned runs allowed in UCF’s series-opener at then-No. 4 Arizona March 7, an outing that factored in to the highest-ranked series win in program history.
Vega on four occasions has spun at least seven innings in an outing, and recorded a season-high 11 strikeouts in her masterpiece against Providence while allowing just one hit in UCF’s 7-0 win March 1.
UP NEXT
Vega and her team begin their final home series of the 2025 season Friday evening, welcoming the Houston Cougars to Orlando. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. from the UCF Softball Complex and will be streamed on ESPN+.
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