Softball's Season Comes to a CloseSoftball's Season Comes to a Close

Softball's Season Comes to a Close

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Knights' historic season came to a close on Sunday as UCF fell to Florida State, 2-0, in the NCAA regional championship at Seminole Softball Complex in Tallahassee, Florida.


After finishing as the runner ups in the American Athletic Conference Championship and taking down Auburn and Kennesaw State on their path to the NCAA Tallahassee regional championship, UCF finished the season with a 41-19-1 overall record. The 41 wins are the seventh most in program history and this is the seventh time in program history that the Knights have had at least 40 wins in a season (2002, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2014, 2015 and 2021).
 
Florida State was led by starting pitcher Kathryn Sandercock on Sunday in the regional championship. Sandercock tossed her eighth complete game of the season after holding UCF to no runs on just one hit. Florida State is headed to a Super Regional for the eighth straight season.

Making her last career start in the circle for the Knights. Alea White allowed just one earned run in three innings pitched to finish the season at 22-8. She finishes her career in the Black and Gold with 99 career victories. Taking over for White in the circle in the fourth inning, Gianna Mancha also tossed three innings, allowing one earned run.
 
The Knights' appearance in the NCAA regional championship was their fifth in program history (2008, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2021).

"I told the team [after the game] that I was proud of them," said head coach Cindy Ball-Malone. "I told them 'I know this hurts, but you made history.' They had such a remarkable season and did things that haven't been done before at UCF. They should be proud of that."
 
TALLAHASSEE BRACKET/SCHEDULE
Friday, May 21
UCF 5, Auburn 4
Florida State 6, Kennesaw State 2
 
Saturday, May 22
UCF 0, Florida State 3
Auburn 0, Kennesaw State 1
UCF 2, Kennesaw State 0
 
Sunday, May 23
UCF 0, Florida State 2

Key Moments

  • The Seminoles threatened with runners on second and third and just one away in the bottom of the second, but a strikeout and a groundout ended the inning to keep the game tied at zero.
  • Back-to-back doubles and an RBI single to begin the bottom of the fourth got Florida State on the board, giving them the 1-0 lead.
  • Later in the inning, an RBI groundout would bring another Seminole home to score, extending their lead to 2-0.
  • Denali Schappacher tripled with two outs in the top of the sixth to break up the no-hitter but the Knights couldn't bring her in, keeping the score at 2-0 FSU.

NOTABLES

  • Denali Schappacher's stolen bases in the first inning marked the 48th of her career, passing UCF Athletics Hall of Famer Stephanie Best for eighth place all-time.
  • The Knights finished the season with a program best .301 team batting average and also a program best 57 home runs
  • It was the fifth time in program history that the Knights have won at least two games in an NCAA regional (2008, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2021).


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