ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF softball team released its 2020 schedule on Friday, highlighted by 25 home games, five tournaments and matchups with 12 NCAA Tournament teams. The 53-game lineup will mark the 19th season for UCF softball.
"We are really looking forward to our competitive 2020 schedule," said UCF Softball Head Coach Cindy Ball-Malone. "This schedule was specifically built to help prepare us for postseason play. Our strength of schedule will be a challenge, but it's a challenge that our team and coaches are excited to take on. We also have the added privilege of playing in most of our seniors' hometowns or regions, which will be a nice chance for them to show off in front of families and friends in their final season.
Overall, our home game schedule is loaded with reputable opponents and we always love playing in front of our great fan base at the plex."
The Knights will kick off their 2020 season by hosting the Black and Gold tournament starting on February 6, when UCF takes on Indiana at 6:00 pm ET.
Ball enters the 2020 campaign in her second season as the second head coach in UCF softball history. Also returning from the 2019 staff are assistant coaches Tiffany Jordan and Kendra Lynch as well as the Director of Operations, Victoria Hayward.
Last season, the Knights finished with an overall record of 34-21 and went 11-10 in the American Athletic Conference. The year came to a close for UCF after narrowly dropping the first game in The American conference championship to Wichita State in Houston.
Four of five All-Conference honorees return to the diamond this spring for the Knights, including Alea White, Karissa Ornelas, Breanna Vasquez and Damaria Cannon. The Knights add ten new faces to the roster looking to make an impact for the Black and Gold this season.
To view the full, UCF Softball 2020 season schedule, click here.
NOTES TO KNOW
- UCF will face 12 opponents that made the NCAA postseason in 2019
- The Knights will play reigning NCAA Women's College World Series champions UCLA on March 6 in California
- There will be 25 chances to see the Knights play at home at the UCF Softball Complex, including three home tournaments
- UCF will take on in-state rivals FSU in Tallahassee on Feb. 26 and the University of Florida in Orlando on April 1
- The Knights will face off against five teams that finished in the top-10 rankings in the USA Today Coaches Poll last year, and eight that finished in the top-25
KEY MATCHUPS
UCF at Florida State (Feb. 26)
UCF and the 2018 national champions FSU will face off in Tallahassee on February 26, with a scheduled time of play to be determined. The Seminoles hold a 19-5 advantage in the all-time series between the two teams, with the last meeting being a 3-9 loss for UCF in Orlando last season. The last win for the Knights over the Seminoles was in 2011 as UCF won, 2-1.
Florida vs. UCF (April 1)
The Gators will travel to Orlando to play the Knights on April 1. The two squads have met at least once every year since 2008 and 25 times in the Knights' 17 seasons. The Knights last win against the Gators came against the then No. 4 Florida team on the Knights home diamond in the 2018 season.
USF vs UCF (Apr. 9-11)
The War On I-4 heads back to Tampa as the rivalry between USF and UCF continues in April. Last season, the Knights dropped three games to the Bulls at home, but the Knights are 11-8 against USF since the two schools joined The American. The Bulls finished the 2019 season with a 41-19 record while going 17-4 against conference opponents.
UCF vs Washington (Feb. 12)
The Knights and the Huskies will meet in Orlando, Fla. on February 12 to face off for the second straight season. Before this season, Washington and UCF have played all seven of their matchups at neutral sites with Huskies holding a 5-2 series lead. In their last meeting in 2019, Washington edged the Knights in a pitcher's duel, with the Knights narrowly falling, 1-3. UCF last took down the Huskies in 2015, where they won 4-2 when Washington was ranked No. 16 in the country.
Coach Ball and Director of Operations Victoria Hayward will both 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, and Hayward played for Tarr at Washington before graduating in 2014.
UCF at UCLA (March 6)
The Knights will square off with the defending national champs UCLA on March 6 in Los Angeles. UCF is 0-6 all-time against the Bruins, with their last matchup coming in 2018. Last year, UCLA went 56-6 en route to the title.
Season and single game tickets will go on sale soon!
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