TAMPA, Fla. – The American Athletic Conference released its 2023 regular season honors Wednesday morning, awards that see eight different Knights recognized, including one major award.
Knights right-handed pitcher Sarah Willis headlines the Knights' representation in The American's post-season awards announcement, as she was bestowed unanimous AAC Pitcher of the Year honors.
Willis was also unanimously selected to The American's All-Conference First Team, joined by catcher Jada Cody, first baseman Shannon Doherty, second baseman Micaela Macario and outfielder Kennedy Searcy.
Shortstop Jasmine Williams, outfielder Chloe Evans and designated player/utility player Aubrey Evans made the cut for All-Conference Second Team, while Aubrey Evans was also selected to the AAC's All-Rookie team at the designated player/utility position.
PITCHER OF THE YEAR – SARAH WILLIS
Willis has represented among the most consistent arms not only on the Knights' pitching staff, but in The American throughout the 2023 season, and was rewarded for her efforts by becoming the second Knight in program history to win AAC Pitcher of the Year, and the first since Shelby Turnier in 2015. Willis also became the third Knight in program history to be recognized as conference Pitcher of the Year, as UCF Hall-of-Famer Mackenzie Audas won the award in Conference-USA in 2012.
Willis punctuated her regular season with an incredible 0.79 ERA (62 IP, 7 ER) in conference play, representing the lowest mark in the conference, and her 1.67 overall ERA (121.2 IP, 29 ER) was the third-best season mark in The American.
Her .183 season batting average-against was bested in the conference only by teammate Grace Jewell's .180, and she threw seven complete games and four solo shutouts, headlined by the first seven-inning perfect game in program history against the Houston Cougars April 28.
She pushed her season-long scoreless innings streak to 29 straight between her April 21 start against South Florida and her May 5 start at Memphis, and she completed her regular season by allowing two or fewer runs in each of her final 14 appearances since March 24, posting a 0.84 ERA in 66.2 innings of work in that span.
ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
For the second consecutive season, the Knights have five players recognized on The American's All-Conference First Team, representing the most of any school in the AAC this year. Willis was a unanimous selection after posting a 1.67 ERA in her 30 appearances (22 starts) this season, accompanied by 104 strikeouts against just 46 walks and her .183 batting average-against.
Her .183 BAA would represent the ninth-lowest mark in a single season in program history, tied with UCF Hall-of-Famer Allison Kime in 2008, and her 1.67 ERA falls six-hundredths of a point short of cracking the top 10 lowest single-season marks in program history. After yielding 14 runs, all earned through her first six appearances in a Knights uniform from Feb. 9-21, Willis has been exceptional, posting an even 1.00 ERA (15 ER) in her final 24 appearances (18 starts) spanning 105.1 innings of work, accompanied by 90 strikeouts and a .157 batting average-against in that span.
Cody was named to the AAC All-Conference First Team for the third straight season after the Murrieta, California, native enjoyed yet another strong offensive season. She produced a .288/.391/.545 (45-for-156) slashline, adding a season-high four triples, 11 doubles and seven home runs. She claimed sole possession of second place on the all-time UCF RBI list with her three-run home run at ECU March 31 and brings a total of 144 career RBI in to the AAC Tournament, and she became the third Knight in program history to reach the 30-homer threshold March 26 against Wichita State. Cody is also knocking on the door of a handful of other UCF career records, as she ranks within the top four in program history in career batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, runs scored and doubles, and her eight triples rank tied for sixth all-time. Cody also needs just three hits to become the 11th Knight in program history to eclipse 200 in her career.
On the heels of winning the highest academic honor a student can win at UCF in the Order of Pegasus award, Doherty was named to the AAC's All-Conference First Team for the first time in her career this season. She produced a strong .320/.462/.620 (16-for-50) line in conference play this season, adding three doubles, four home runs, 14 RBI, 31 total bases and two stolen bases. Her season was highlighted by a career day in the Knights' series finale against Tulsa April 16, during which she hit two home runs as part of a 3-for-3, six-RBI day. Her six RBI remain tied for the most in a single game by a player in The American this year, and her nine total bases during the contest represent a single-game high in conference play. She recorded an overall .286/.410/.490 (42-for-147) line this season, collecting 12 extra-base hits (three doubles and nine home runs), 37 RBI, 72 total bases, 27 walks and five stolen bases. Her 37 RBI represent the fifth-most in the conference this season, and her nine home runs rank tied for third-most. Doherty also claimed the top spot on the UCF all-time hit-by-pitch leaderboard this season and has been hit by a total of 29 pitches throughout her four-year career.
Macario returns to The American's end-of-season honors after winning conference Rookie of the Year in 2022, being named to the AAC's All-Conference First Team for the first time after making the cut for Second Team last season. In 15 conference games, Macario recorded a .395 average (15-for-38) that ranked seventh-highest in the conference, accompanied by a .442 on-base percentage and a .474 slugging percentage. The sophomore infielder clubbed the first two home runs of her career this season, the first coming against then-No. 25 Michigan Feb. 17 and the second against Tulsa April 16. In 43 games this season, Macario hit .313/.362/.448 (30-for-96) with seven extra-base hits (three doubles, two triples and two home runs), 12 RBI, 43 total bases, seven walks and three stolen bases.
After making The American's All-Conference First Team in 2022 as a third baseman, Searcy returns to the list in the outfield in 2023. She becomes the fourth Knight in program history to make the AAC's First Team in at least two different positions, joining Cody, Cassady Brewer and Natalie Land. She followed her strong 2022 season with an even more impressive 2023 campaign, producing a .439/.522/.474 (25-for-57) line in conference play, accompanied by two doubles, eight RBI, 27 total bases and 10 stolen bases in 14 tries. Her .439 mark in conference play represents the third-best in The American, and Searcy is the lone player in the AAC with double-digit stolen bases in conference play. She also ranks among the top five in conference play in average, on-base percentage, runs scored (16), hits and stolen bases. Overall, the Jacksonville, Florida, native recorded a .315/.380/.384 (46-for-146) line this season, adding seven extra-base hits (five doubles, one triple and one home run), 22 RBI, 56 total bases and 17 stolen bases in 21 attempts.
ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
The Knights saw a trio of newcomers make the cut for AAC Second Team All-Conference in junior outfielder Chloe Evans, redshirt senior shortstop Jasmine Williams, and freshman utility infielder/designated player Aubrey Evans.
Chloe Evans was consistently among the Knights' top performers throughout the regular season, starting each of UCF's 55 games in right field while leading the squad in doubles (15), triples (7), RBI (43), total bases (102), average (.352) and slugging percentage (.618), and recording a .414 on-base percentage and five home runs. Her seven triples rank tied for second-most in a single season in program history, her 43 RBI rank tied for sixth in a single season all-time, and she also owns a share of second place on the UCF single-season doubles list with Aubrey Evans, among others. Her .352 average would rank ninth-highest in a single season in program history, while her .618 slugging percentage would rank sixth-highest. She also pulled in among the conference leaders in doubles (1st), triples (1st), RBI (3rd), total hits (58, 4th), total bases (4th), slugging percentage (8th), runs scored (35, 8th) and average (9th).
Williams was also a mainstay in the Knights' lineup at shortstop throughout the season, representing the only other player to start each of UCF's 55 games. Her .328 average in conference play ranked 15th in The American, and she added a .339 on-base percentage and a .345 slugging percentage in conference play. In 192 total chances in the field, Williams recorded a conference-leading 116 assists, and her 13 fielding double plays ranked fourth-most in The American. She also hit one of her four home runs against then-No. 2 UCLA in the Judi Garman Classic, a game-tying solo home run in the top of the sixth inning March 3. She also hit a pair of leadoff home runs in both games of the Knights' March 11 doubleheader against Toledo and Kennesaw State at home.
In her first taste of collegiate action this season, Aubrey Evans was up to the task, recording a .317 average (40-for-126) that ranked third-best on the team while co-leading the squad with 15 doubles. She added a .426 on-base percentage and a .500 slugging percentage, aided by her first collegiate home run against the then-No. 2 Oklahoma State Cowgirls March 19. Her .317 average and 15 doubles also represent the best marks of any freshman in The American, and she finished the regular season tied with Chloe Evans and Wichita State's Lauren Lucas for the conference lead in doubles. The Apopka, Florida, native also produced a standout .354/.460/.521 (17-for-48) line in conference play, adding five doubles, one home run, 14 RBI and 25 total bases.
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Aubrey Evans also earned a spot on the American Athletic Conference All-Rookie team, marking the third straight year that UCF saw at least one player honored to the All-Rookie team.
COMPLETE LIST OF AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE REGULAR SEASON AWARDS
Player of the Year
Sydney McKinney, Wichita State
Pitcher of the Year
Sarah Willis, UCF*
Defensive Player of the Year
Kathy Garcia-Soto, South Florida
Sami Hood, Wichita State
Rookie of the Year
Alex Aguilar, Wichita State*
Coaching Staff of the Year
Wichita State*
All-Conference First Team
P – Sarah Willis, UCF*
P – Gabriella Nori, South Florida
C – Jada Cody, UCF
1B – Zoe Jones, Wichita State
1B – Shannon Doherty, UCF
2B – Micaela Macario, UCF
3B – Turiya Coleman, Houston
SS – Sydney McKinney, Wichita State*
SS – Imani Edwards, Tulsa
OF – Kennedy Searcy, UCF
OF – Haley Morgan, Tulsa
OF – Addison Barnard, Wichita State
OF – Lauren Lucas, Wichita State
DP/U/P – Vivian Ponn, South Florida
DP/U/Non-P – Bree Cantu, Houston*
All-Conference Second Team
P – Alex Aguilar, Wichita State
P – Lauren Howell, Wichita State
C – Lainee Brown, Wichita State
IF – Jasmine Williams, UCF
IF – Kathy Garcia-Soto, South Florida
IF – Marissa Trivelpiece, South Florida
IF – Sami Hood, Wichita State
OF – Chloe Evans, UCF
OF – Taylor Edwards, East Carolina
OF – Jordyn Kadlub, South Florida
OF – MacKenzie Denson, Tulsa
DP/U – Aubrey Evans, UCF
DP/U – Kylee Nash, Tulsa
All-Rookie Team
P – Alex Aguilar, Wichita State*
2B – Sami Hood, Wichita State
3B – Mackenzie Kila, East Carolina
SS – Kathy Garcia-Soto, South Florida
OF – Neely Taylor, Memphis
OF – Taylor Sedlacek, Wichita State
DP/U – Aubrey Evans, UCF
*denotes unanimous selection
UP NEXT
The second-seeded Knights are readying for their American Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinal matchup against the No. 7 Memphis Tigers Thursday afternoon. First pitch from USF Softball Stadium is slated for 2 p.m.
