ORLANDO – The UCF softball team and head coach Cindy Ball-Malone released their 2021 schedule on Tuesday. Highlighted by 25 home games, the 54-game lineup will mark the 20th season for UCF Softball.
"As expected, Team XX will be competing in one of the top strength of schedules in the nation. Though it might look a little different than most years with travel restriction due to COVID-19, we aren't letting that stop us," said Ball-Malone. "What I love most about Team XX is that although they expect to compete against the best in the country, they always understand that we are competing against the game and our best selves."
The Knights will kick off the 2021 season on the road from February 13-14 as they are set for four games in two days with FGCU in Fort Myers, Fla.
All 2021 conference matches will include one doubleheader to make for a total of four games played over the span of three days. Dates and times for the doubleheaders will be announced later in the season.
More information on ticketing and COVID-19 protocols will come at a later date. For the latest and most up-to-date information, follow UCF Softball on Facebook (/UCFSoftball), Twitter (@UCF_Softball) and Instagram (@UCF.Softball).
"We always look forward to strong in-state and out-of-state competition. Most of our out-of-state opponents are contenders in their respective conferences and have historically been postseason contenders. The American is a top-five conference in the nation so we take no conference opponent lightly. The addition of a game in each series against an AAC opponent will bring a new challenge which we look forward to taking on," said Ball-Malone. "We look forward to seeing our fans help us Protect The Plex this season."
To view the full, UCF Softball 2020 season schedule, click here.
Ball-Malone enters the 2021 season in her third season as head coach of the Knights. Also returning from the 2020 staff are assistant coaches Tiffany Jordan and Kendra Lynch as well as the Director of Operations, Kyle Sheppard.
UCF finished the 2020 season with a 21-5-1 overall record (.777 winning percentage) that included an 11-game winning streak from Feb. 14 through March 1. The Knights secured the best start in program history as they were off to a 16-2 record to start the year.
The Knights had matchups with 12 schools either receiving votes or ranked during the season, posting a 6-5-1 record against those opponents and a 9-4-1 record against non-conference Power6 opponents.
In July of 2020, three seniors announced they would be taking advantage of the extra season of eligibility granted by the NCAA after the COVID-19 pandemic forced an abrupt end to all spring sports. Alea White, Jazmine Esparza and Kyra Klarkowski will all return to suit up once again for the Black and Gold in 2021. As a result, most of the 2020 historic team's roster will remain intact, with positional depth only boosted by newcomers.
NOTES TO KNOW
- The Knights' schedule includes 14 double headers, five at home
- All seven conference series will include one doubleheader, making for four games played in the span of three days
- UCF will face six opponents that made the NCAA postseason in 2019
- There will be 25 chances to see the Knights play at home at the UCF Softball Complex
- The Knights will face off against three teams that were ranked in the NFCA/USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll to begin the year
KEY MATCHUPS
No. 7 University of Florida vs. UCF (March 24, April 14)
The Knights will play a home-and-home with the Gators in 2021. Excluding the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, the two squads have met at least once every year since 2008 and 25 times in the Knights' 19 seasons. UCF's last win against the Gators came against the then No. 4 Florida team on the Knights' home diamond in the 2018 season. Florida sits at No. 7 in the NFCA/USA Today Preseason Top 25 Coaches' Poll.
South Florida vs. UCF (Apr. 9-11)
The War On I-4 takes place in Orlando in 2021 as the rivalry between South Florida and UCF continues in May with the Knights' last regular season series of the year. The two teams did not have a chance to play in 2020, but in 2019, the Knights dropped three games to the Bulls at home. UCF is 11-8 against South Florida since the two schools joined The American. The Bulls finished the 2020 season with a 16-9 record and come into 2021 predicted to finish second behind UCF in the conference's preseason coaches' poll.
No. 3 Arizona vs. UCF
UCF will take on the Wildcats for just the second time in its history when the two face off in Orlando on March 8. In the first contest in 2016, the Knights lost to then No. 6 Arizona, 19-4 at a neutral site. Arizona was 22-3 in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, including earning wins over No. 12 Tennessee, No. 18 Missouri, and No. 8 Alabama. In 2019, the sixth-seeded Wildcats finished the season with a 48-14 record and their 23rd WCWS appearance in program history. Arizona checks in at No. 3 overall in the NFCA/USA Today Preseason Top 25 Coaches' Poll.
No. 19 South Carolina vs. UCF
The Knights are undefeated all-time against South Carolina after winning all five of their previous contests. UCF's last win over the Gamecocks came in 2015, with a 5-2 win at a neutral site. South Carolina was 17-6 in 2020, including a win over No. 16 Michigan. They come into 2021 ranked 19 in the NFCA/USA Today Preseason Top 25 Coaches' Poll. The Knights will have their chance to keep the streak going when they travel to Columbia, South Carolina for three games with the Gamecocks from March 20-21.