TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Playing on its biggest stage and under the brightest lights thus far, Team 22 proved it belongs.
Facing South Carolina's notorious flamethrower, Donnie Gobourne, some 270 miles away from its home turf in Orlando, the (RV) UCF softball team was undaunted, topping the No. 20 Gamecocks by a convincing 6-1 final score to open NCAA Regional play at Florida State's Seminole Softball Complex Friday night.
The win marked the 40th of the campaign for the Knights, marking the ninth season in program history UCF has achieved at least 40 victories, and the first time in program history the Knights racked up 40 wins in three consecutive seasons.
UCF also extended its season-long win streak to 14 straight dating back to the Knights' 13-1 rout of Tulsa April 16, and has emerged victorious in 21 of its last 22 games going back even further to the Black & Gold's 3-2 win over North Florida March 29.
The Knights drew a regional matchup with the Gamecocks for the third time in program history, as well, and pushed their perfect postseason record against South Carolina to 3-0 after topping the Gamecocks by 4-1 and 5-2 final scores during the 2015 Tallahassee Regional.
"I'm just incredibly proud of our team and our fight, because South Carolina's a really hot team right now," said head coach Cindy Ball-Malone. "I loved our plan that we had. We were fearless with the plan, and we were okay failing with our plan, and we just stuck with it. I'm proud of this group, it's been a dogfight this season and we just keep getting better every time we're together."
The Knights pulled off their fourth victory this season over a ranked opponent by playing one of their most complete games of the season in all facets of the game. UCF dazzled throughout the evening in the field, making a handful of eye-popping defensive gems to complement right-hander Sarah Willis in her 10th complete game, and 19th win, of the year.
As she has been on numerous occasions throughout the 2023 slate, junior transfer Chloe Evans was also at the center of the offensive barrage in support of her roommate, Willis.
Before any of Evans' offensive heroics, though, it was center fielder Johneisha Rowe who made the highlight reels with an 8-5 double play to aid Willis in escaping the first inning unscathed.
"Huge, big time," Ball-Malone said the Knights' defense throughout the evening. "Sarah's saying that too, because you're taking away some of the base hits. We really pride ourselves on our relays and destinations, and before the weather delay yesterday in our practice, I thought we looked super sharp when we did them. I was really excited for how we took possession of the field yesterday, and it carried on to today."
Rowe also made an impressive running catch to record an out for her teammate in the seventh inning, and Evans, in the midst of her two-hit, three-RBI night, threw out a Gamecocks baserunner in the fifth frame as well after attempting to stretch a single into a double.
The Knights, unfazed by Gobourne's early velocity, threatened to score in both the first two frames, highlighted by freshman designated player Aubrey Evans' 17th double of the season in the first inning, becoming the program's all-time single-season doubles leader.
UCF managed to break the ice in the third on the strength of back-to-back one-out singles by Aubrey Evans and Jada Cody. After junior utility player Katie Burge entered to pinch-run for Aubrey, Chloe strode to the plate and shot an opposite field single to left that allowed Cody to score the game's first run.
After South Carolina scratched across an equalizer in the home half, the Knights punched back with two more in the fourth to retake a 3-1 advantage. Freshman Shelli DiPuma, pinch-running for Willis who had drawn a one-out walk, dashed home on a wild pitch uncorked by Gobourne, and Cody beat an infield single moments later to plate Rowe.
UCF punctuated its offensive exploits with a late surge in the sixth inning that saw the Knights score three more times, headlined by Chloe Evans' eighth triple of the season that pushed her into a tie with Tiffany Lane for the most in a single season in program history. Junior first baseman Shannon Doherty later squeezed Evans home with a successful bunt up the third base line.
"The triple was super exciting, it got the dugout really excited and I think that was the momentum we needed going into those last few innings," Chloe said. "When I hit that ball, seeing it hit the wall, I just knew I needed to keep going. I saw Aubrey keep going, and I looked up at Coach Tyler [Heil], and he wasn't stopping me."
Chloe notched her eighth game with at least three RBI in the winning effort, and with her 48 RBI this season moved into a tie for fourth-most in a single season in program history with Stephanie Best's 48 in 2004. Only Best and Cody remain ahead of Chloe on the list, combining to occupy the top three spots.
The surplus runs proved more than enough for Willis, who was once again masterful in quieting a Gamecocks offense that entered the tournament averaging five runs per game and an on-base percentage north of .370.
After allowing the tying run in the second, Willis bounced back with a spotless fourth inning that included her first two strikeouts of the evening, and the right-hander navigated a scoreless fifth, thanks in part to Chloe's outfield assist.
Willis tiptoed around a pair of baserunners in the sixth, and a 6-4-3 double play started by shortstop Jasmine Williams ended the contest in the seventh, clinching UCF's date with No. 3 Florida State Saturday afternoon.
The right-hander, who entered the evening with a 1.46 ERA that led The American and ranked 25th in the nation, lowered her season mark to 1.44 (145.2 IP, 30 ER) with her seven-inning effort Friday, and posted her 18th consecutive appearance allowing two runs or fewer since her March 24 complete game against the No. 21 Wichita State Shockers.
In that span, Willis has recorded a 0.69 ERA (90.2 IP, 9 ER) in 18 appearances (15 starts), adding 62 strikeouts while limiting her opposition to a .163 batting average-against.
"I think that's one of the things I've been working on my whole college career," Willis said of her ability to change speeds effectively. "Being able to get my riseball working too now this season, throwing both sides of the plate and having my offspeed to keep people off balance, keep them guessing so they're not sitting on one pitch."
UP NEXT
The Knights will match up against the host and third-ranked Seminoles in the Regional Semifinals Saturday afternoon, with first pitch from Seminole Softball Complex slated for 1 p.m.