Softball Shuts Out No. 3 Florida, 4-0Softball Shuts Out No. 3 Florida, 4-0

Softball Shuts Out No. 3 Florida, 4-0

by Ryan Ladika
Box Score

ORLANDO – On a night when the squad was playing for a cause bigger than the game, the UCF softball team produced one of its biggest outcomes of the season.

As junior infielder Aubrey Evans stepped into the batter’s box for her first at-bat of the contest, the silence struck her, and led to a brief moment of reflection.

“It made me realize that this game is more than what it is. You play for something bigger than yourself. I had a moment when I thought, ‘This is going to be bigger than myself.’”

Aubrey Evansjunior shortstop

As the Knights donned specially-made uniform elements in honor of the program’s third annual Autism Awareness and Acceptance Game, the on-field results followed. Led by redshirt freshman Isabella Vega’s seven-inning complete game shutout, UCF blanked the No. 3 Florida Gators, 4-0, in front of a sellout crowd at the UCF Softball Complex Wednesday evening.

The victory marked UCF’s fifth ranked win of the season, its highest-ranked win of the campaign, third top-four victory, and second shutout of a ranked opponent this spring. The Black and Gold also earned their highest-ranked shutout victory since the team stymied the then-No. 2 Arizona Wildcats in Orlando, 2-0, March 8, 2021.

“I just feel blessed. It’s such an amazing experience to have our community come out and celebrate awareness, recognition and inclusion for autism. Then at the same time, to watch our team get after it with our gameplan, they were locked in with every single pitch. It was awesome.”

Cindy Ball-MaloneHead coach

They did it on the back of a pair of two-run home runs, by Evans and freshman Izzy Mertes, and the latest in a string of dominant outings by Vega.

The right-hander blanked a Florida offense that entered the evening ranking within the nation’s top 10 in average (.367), hits (318), home runs (62), on base percentage (.462), RBI (264), runs per game (8.24), slugging percentage (.655), and total runs scored (280). The contest also marked the first time the Gators suffered a shutout loss this season, and their first shutout defeat since falling 10-0 in five innings to the then-No. 1 Texas Longhorns in the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City June 1, 2024.

Vega also became the first pitcher to throw a seven-inning complete game shutout against the Gators since Alabama’s Kayla Beaver blanked Florida in seven innings in Tuscaloosa March 11, 2024. The Bradenton native joined an exclusive club at UCF as well, becoming the fifth Knights pitcher in program history to throw a seven-plus-inning complete game shutout against Florida and the second rookie to do so, after Mackenzie Audas blanked the Gators in a 2-0 victory April 11, 2012 her freshman season.

“She knows who she is, and she understands that she can utilize her defense when she needs to. She’s got a few pitches to go to, and she did a great job with controlling the tempo and throwing minimal pitches tonight. Florida’s such a tough offense to throw against, so to match that is really difficult. She’s a great matchup for it.”

Cindy Ball-Maloneon Isabella Vega

Vega received an early offensive jolt in support after she spun a perfect top of the first inning, when Evans followed a Sierra Humphreys one-out single with a two-run blast over the left field fence, marking her fourth home run of the season and eighth of her career.

The infielder also slugged her third career home run against a top four-ranked opponent, joining her long balls against then-No. 2 Oklahoma State March 19, 2023 and then-No. 4 Arizona March 8, 2025.

UCF’s immediate offensive contribution was more than enough for Vega, who cruised through her start against one of the nation’s top offensive corps. She spun a spotless top of the second, including her second strikeout, and stranded a pair of Gator baserunners in the top of the third.

Another perfect frame followed in the fourth, and once again, Vega demonstrated her resolve when Florida put two more runners on in the top of the fifth, inducing a ground ball to Evans at shortstop to escape the threat.

The Knights added on two more insurance scores in the home half of the fifth, when freshman catcher Beth Damon lined a double to left-center field in the moments preceding Mertes’ third home run of the spring.

“This team has some fight in us. We saw that today. Things haven’t gone our way recently, but the season is long, and it’s how you come out the next day. We did a really good job sticking to the plan, sticking to who we are, and it came to fruition today.”

Aubrey Evansjunior shortstop

Vega put the finishing touches on her latest outing, fanning one in the top of the sixth as she stranded a two-out double, and whiffing her fourth of the evening in leaving a one-out single on base in the top of the seventh.

Not only did Vega limit Florida to just three at-bats with runners in scoring position, but she also handed the Gators their first loss of the season against an in-state opponent. Florida had prevailed in its first nine contests this season against programs from the Sunshine State prior to UCF’s Wednesday win.

“I’m just super proud of everyone,” Vega said. “Our offense, defense, every aspect of the game. It was really good to see us making adjustments, following the plan, and buying into what the coaches are telling us.”

UP NEXT

UCF will look to bring its momentum back on the road, as the squad will begin a three-game set against the Baylor Bears in Waco, Texas this weekend. First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from Getterman Stadium Friday, and will be streamed on ESPN+.

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