ORLANDO – Two series into its 2025 Big 12 Conference slate, the UCF softball team is prepped to host the Iowa State Cyclones in its next three-game set as its seven-game homestand draws to a close.
The Knights (20-11-1, 3-3 Big 12) most recently dropped a close matchup in Gainesville to the No. 3 Florida Gators before taking one of their three contests against the Arizona State Sun Devils over the last week, again seeing a handful of their younger contributors enjoy breakout performances.
Against the Gators, freshman Yessenia Lopez turned in a strong outing in the circle against one of the top offenses in the nation. The freshman spun six innings of three-run ball, limiting a Florida offense that entered the contest leading the country in total hits, home runs, RBI, slugging percentage and total runs scored to just three runs on four hits.
The outing marked Lopez’s third of the spring that saw her toss at least six innings, and the freshman held the Gators to three or fewer runs scored in a game for just the fourth time in their first 29 this season.
In the Black and Gold’s series with Arizona State over the weekend, it was senior right-hander Kaitlyn Felton who paced the squad in the circle, throwing a seven-inning complete game in the series-opener Friday before tossing two more scoreless innings in Sunday’s finale.
With a 2.33 ERA overall in her two most recent appearances spanning nine innings pitched, Felton emerged from the weekend’s action ranking among Big 12 leaders in shutouts (3, T-1st), complete games (5, T-2nd), saves (3, 2nd), earned run average (0.79, 2nd), WHIP (0.91, T-5th), fewest hits allowed per seven innings (4.94, 7th), and innings pitched (62.1, 7th).
Redshirt freshman Isabella Vega also produced a dominant start in leading the Knights to their Saturday win over the Sun Devils, tossing a run-rule-shortened, six-inning complete game shutout with just two hits allowed and five strikeouts.
Like Lopez, Vega also notched her third appearance of the season with at least six innings pitched in her Saturday outing, and lowered her season ERA to 1.34, good for sixth-lowest in the Big 12 overall. She also ranks among league leaders in shutouts (3, T-1st), strikeouts per seven innings (7.3, 4th), strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.90, 5th), WHIP (0.91, T-5th) and fewest hits allowed per seven innings (4.91, 6th).
Freshman catcher Beth Damon spearheaded the offensive charge for her squad as well, enjoying a career day against the Sun Devils in Saturday’s 11-0 run-rule victory.
The Edmond, Oklahoma, native went 3-for-4 with two home runs, including her first career grand slam, two runs scored and seven RBI in the winning effort, which marked her second career three-hit game and new career highs in homers, RBI and total bases.
She hit UCF’s second run-rule clinching, game-ending grand slam in as many seasons, and the first since fifth year designated player/right-handed pitcher Sona Halajian ended UCF’s 9-0 win over the North Florida Ospreys with a fifth-inning pinch-hit grand slam April 2, 2024.
The Knights this weekend will meet the Cyclones for the first time since winning the teams’ three-game set on the road to conclude the 2024 regular season, outscoring Iowa State by an aggregate 16-12 in Ames May 3-5.
The Cyclones are off to an 11-14 start this spring, including a 1-2 record in Big 12 Conference play after dropping two of three to the Houston Cougars March 7-9. UCF will look to build upon a 6-2 all-time record against Iowa State following its road series win last year.
The Cyclones are led offensively by freshman infielder Jessie Clemons, who through 25 games boasts a .405 average (34-for-84) with 19 runs scored, eight doubles, four home runs, 21 RBI and four walks.
Sophomore right-hander Lauren Schurman paces the squad in the circle, meanwhile, bringing to Orlando a team-best 2.94 ERA in 22 appearances with 40 strikeouts against 25 walks.
First pitch is set for 6 p.m. from the UCF Softball Complex Thursday evening and will be streamed on ESPN+.
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