Knights Open Season Thursday

ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF Softball squad has home field advantage in their first five games of 2019 as they host their annual Friends of Jaclyn Tournament to begin their season.

All UCF games will be streamed live on UCFKnights.TV and live stats will be available for all 14 matchups.

The six-team tournament features three teams with preseason rankings/receiving votes in Ole Miss, Minnesota, and Ohio State that will kickoff on Thursday and conclude Sunday. This is UCF’s first of three home tournaments.

THE OPPONENTS

• Thursday – vs. rv Ole Miss – 6pm
  • All-time record vs the Rebels: 3-1
  • Last meeting: 2013, W, 4-3
• Friday – vs. No. 21 Minnesota – 7:30pm
  • All-time record vs the Golden Gophers: 1-0
    • Last meeting: 2015, W, 4-0
• Saturday – vs. rv Ohio State and George Mason – 5:30/8pm
  • All-time record vs the Buckeyes: 4-2
  • Last meeting: 2017, L, 0-8
  • All-time record vs the Patriots: 5-0
  • Last meeting: 2015, W, 10-1
• Sunday – vs. North Florida – 3:30pm
  • All-time record vs the Ospreys: 12-5
  • Last meeting: 2018, W, 5-3

KNIGHT BITES

• TIME TO BALL: Cindy Ball-Malone was named the second head coach in UCF softball history in June. Ball-Malone joins the Knights after four successful seasons at Boise State University. In her last two campaigns, Ball-Malone compiled a 73-36 record. She led the squad to the program’s first postseason appearance at the 2017 National Invitational Softball Championship and followed it up with a 2018 NCAA Tournament berth.
• NEW YEAR, NEW STAFF – Ball-Malone added three new additions to the softball staff, while retaining assistant coach Tiffany Jordan. Kendra Lynch (assistant), Jenn Salling (volunteer assistant), and Victoria Hayward (director of ops) will all bring a plethora of playing and coaching experience to the program.
• THE END OF 2018 - The Knights finished the 2018 season 34-22 overall and 12-9 in conference play finishing third for the second consecutive year. UCF faced Memphis in the opening round of The American Tournament, but was knocked out after falling to the Tigers, 3-0.
• THE BATTERY IS BACK - The impressive battery of Alea White and Cassady Brewer return for one more season before Brewer graduates. Last season, the duo teamed up for 167 strikeouts, 23 wins, and over 250 innings.
• RETURNERS ARE KEY - The Black and Gold return all but two regular offensive starters combining for 239 hits, 126 hits, 133 RBI, and a .270 batting average. Denali Schappacher, Brewer, Aubrey Johnson, Kyra Klarkowski, Jazmine Esparza, Kaitlyn Jensen, and Erin Emanuel are back in the lineup for the 2019 Knights.

WEEKEND PROMOTIONS

• Friday – Free UCF Softball visors to the first 150 fans
• Saturday – National Pizza Day at the concession stand
• Sunday – Citronaut drinks available at the concession stand

TICKETS FOR 2019
Fans can purchase tickets for the 2019 UCF softball season by calling (407) 823-1000 or online here.

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