No. 21 UCF vs. No. 7 Florida State |
ORLANDO – The UCF softball team will look to add to its best start in program history on Wednesday as the No. 21 ranked Knights are set to make up their postponed game against No. 7 Florida State at the UCF Softball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 6 pm.
The contest was originally scheduled for Feb. 26 in Tallahassee, but unfavorable weather kept the two teams off the field. The make-up game will be streamed live on UCFKnights.TV and fans can follow along with the live stats here.
It will be a reunion on Wednesday as UCF assistant coach Kendra Kirkhoff was Florida State's volunteer assistant coach during the 2018 season as the Seminoles won their first NCAA National Championship. Brandi Stuart, former FSU softball player and two-time NFCA All-American, is the Knights' Executive Associate Athletic Director and also serves as UCF's Senior Woman Administrator and Deputy Title IX Coordinator.
THE OPPONENT
- The Seminoles are ranked No. 12 overall in the latest USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Poll.
- FSU started their 2020 season 10-6, including a win over then No. 1 Alabama.
- Last season, FSU finished the season 55-10 and made it to the Super Regionals, where the Seminoles lost to Oklahoma State.
- The Seminoles hold a 19-5 all-time record against the Knights with UCF dropping the last meeting, 9-3 in 2019.
- FSU won the Women's College World Series in 2018, finishing with a 58-12 record.
- The Seminoles have played 10 of their first 16 games of the 2020 season against a team that is either ranked or receiving votes in the USA Softball poll.
KNIGHT BITES
- KNIGHTS CLIMB IN THE POLLS – For the first time since 2016, the Knights are ranked in the NFCA/USA Today coaches' poll as they check in this week at No. 22. UCF's next three games are against No. 12 FSU (March 4), No. 16 Michigan (March 6) and No. 1 UCLA (March 6). UCF also plays No. 18 Minnesota on March 8.
- LAST TIME OUT – The Knights are coming off a 3-0 weekend while hosting the UCF Invitational. UCF run ruled LIU, 9-1, Friday night before winning a pair of two-run contests against Longwood on Saturday and Sunday.
- WHITE ON PACE – In her last start over the weekend, Alea White was lights out as she tossed a one hit, one run, complete game. She struck out 12 in the contest for career win number 74. White needs just six more to tie UCF all-time career wins leader Shelby Turnier (2013-2016).
- BEAR PICKS UP NO. 50 – When the Knights captured win number 16 on the season in the 2-0 victory over Longwood on Sunday, it marked coach Ball-Malone's 50th win as the head coach at UCF. Her all-time record as the head coach of the Knights entering Wednesday's game against FSU is 50-24(.676).
- ROOKIE ON A ROLL – First year Knight Shannon Doherty has been demolishing the ball all season long. The freshman from Coral Spring, Fla. owns a slash line of .545/.585/.636, one home run and 12 RBI in 33 at bats. With two base hits in Sunday's win over Longwood, Doherty now owns a 13-game hitting streak, the longest for a freshman since Stephanie Best (2002-2005).
FOLLOW THE KNIGHTS
Stay tuned to UCF Softball on Facebook (/UCFSoftball), Twitter (@UCF_Softball) and Instagram (@UCF.Softball) for the latest on the UCF Softball team.
GET THE APP
Never miss any UCF Knights news from your favorite team by downloading the free UCF Knights app right to your iOS or Android phone! The app provides personalized information for men's and women's teams, scores, schedules, loyalty programs and even breaking news. Download the app here.