ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF softball team released its 2019 schedule highlighted by 33 home games, five tournaments, and matchups with 12 NCAA Tournament teams. The 51-game lineup will be the 18th season for UCF softball and the first season under a new staff.
“Our coaching staff is very excited about the 2019 schedule,” said Head Coach Cindy Ball. “We believe that with the strength of our preseason schedule and the RPI of our opponents, we will be well prepared for our challenging conference play. We started this preparation in the fall scheduling games vs Canada, China and Florida, and plan to continue developing and growing as a team during the preseason.”
Ball enters as the second head coach in UCF softball history and has brought an experienced staff with her. Kendra Lynch, Jenn Salling, and Victoria Hayward will all bring a plethora of playing and coaching experience to the program. Assistant Coach Tiffany Jordan will enter her fifth year as a part of the program.
Last season, the Knights finished with an overall record of 34-22 with a 12-9 American Athletic Conference record. The season came to a close for UCF after dropping the first game in The American Tournament in Tampa. The Knights are returning all but two starters after graduating outfielder Megan Greenwell and infielder Courtney Rotton.
All-Conference honorees Alea White, Denali Schappacher, Cassady Brewer, and Erin Emanuel, all return to the diamond this spring for the Knights. The Knights have eight new faces to the roster looking to make an impact for the Black and Gold.
“Coaching changes, new techniques, and eight newcomers to the roster create adversity for any team and its culture. I am proud to say that this team has responded well to these changes and have their sights set on the postseason,” added Ball. “I am eager to see our team have the opportunity to showcase their hard work this upcoming season and am excited for the future of UCF Softball!”
NOTES TO KNOW
- UCF will face 12 opponents that made the NCAA postseason in 2018.
- Three games will be played against Washington and Florida State, the two teams in the WCWS Championship from last season.
- There will be 33 chances to see the Knights play at the UCF Softball Complex, including three home tournaments.
- The Knights will battle seven defending conference champion opponents: Florida State – ACC, Tulsa – The American, Sacramento State – Big Sky, Minnesota – Big Ten, Bethune-Cookman – MEAC, Dartmouth – Ivy League, and Florida – SEC.
- The Black and Gold will play six teams that finished the 2018 season with an RPI in the Top 25, 12 teams with an RPI in the Top 50, and 18 team in the Top 100.
KEY MATCHUPS
Florida State vs UCF (March 3-4)
UCF and the defending national champions will face off March 3-4. Florida State will be one of five teams competing in the UCF Invitational where the two will meet in the last game of the tournament on Sunday, March 3 at 2:30pm. Both teams will be back at it again at the UCF Softball Complex on Monday for a 6 p.m. first pitch. The Seminoles hold a 17-5 advantage in the all-time series between the two teams, with the last meeting being a 4-0 victory for then No.1 Florida State in Orlando in 2017. The last win for the Knights over the Seminoles was in 2011 resulting in a 2-1 win for UCF.
UCF vs Washington (Feb. 15)
The Knights and national runner-up Huskies will meet at a neutral site venue in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in the PV College Challenge. Washington and UCF have played all six of their matchups at neutral sites with Huskies holding a 4-2 series lead. In their last meeting in 2016, then No. 11 Washington edged the Knights in an offensive showcase, 9-7. UCF took down the Huskies in the meeting before in 2015, 4-2 when Washington was ranked No. 16 in the country.
Coach Ball, volunteer assistant Jenn Salling, and Director of Operations Victoria Hayward, will all be re-connected with their former squad. Coach Ball was an assistant coach for the Huskies from 2011-2012 under current Head Coach, Heather Tarr. Both Salling and Hayward played for Tarr at Washington. Salling graduated in 2011 and Hayward graduated in 2014.
UCF at Florida (March 13)
After defeating then No. 4 Florida on the Knights home diamond last season, UCF will travel to Gainesville to take on the Gators. In last year’s meeting, Cassady Brewer drove in the lone run of the game to shut out Florida, 1-0. The two have met at least once every year since 2008 and 24 times in the Knights’ 16 seasons. Florida advanced to the WCWS last season as the No. 2 seed but fell to UCLA and Oklahoma.
USF vs UCF (Apr. 12-14)
The War On I-4 comes back to Orlando as the rivalry between USF and UCF continues. UCF took home six War On I-4 points after taking two of the three games in the final series of the regular season in the spring. In conference play, the Knights are ahead in the series, 8-4.
USF was awarded an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament, but fell to Ohio State twice to be eliminated in the Gainesville Regional. The Bulls finished 39-23 with a 14-7 record in The American and 5-7 on the road.
UCF at Tulsa (Apr. 19-21)
In an American matchup, Tulsa is out for revenge against the Knights after UCF swept them in the conference-opening series last spring. Tulsa went on to win the conference earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Knights and Golden Hurricane are tied in all-time conference meetings, 18-18 and after the three-game set this season, one will claim the advantage. Tulsa finished the season 24-25 with a 10-11 conference record and an 8-6 record in Tulsa.
Season and single game tickets will go on sale soon!
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