WACO, Texas – The UCF softball team saw another dominant outing by redshirt freshman Isabella Vega, but the squad was unable to muster the offensive support it needed in its 1-0 series-opening loss to the Baylor Bears at Getterman Stadium Friday.
Vega, in her first appearance since she became the first rookie pitcher since 2023 to throw a seven-inning complete game shutout against the Florida Gators Wednesday evening, ensured she carried her momentum with her on the road.
Baylor pounced for what would prove to be the game’s lone run in the bottom of the first inning, cashing in on back-to-back one-out walks with a two-out RBI single up the middle, but Vega would settle into her groove in the second frame.
She notched a strong bounce-back stanza with her second and third strikeouts of the evening, and in the third, the Bradenton native stranded two Bears in scoring position with her fourth punchout and a pop up to shortstop Aubrey Evans.
Vega added her fifth whiff of the contest to lead off the fourth inning, and would later strand a two-out single, and her sixth strikeout came in a perfect fifth frame.
She again retired the Bears in order in the sixth, adding her seventh punchout of the game, to post her sixth effort of the season with at least five innings pitched and one or fewer runs allowed.
The redshirt freshman, who entered the evening boasting the fifth-lowest ERA in the Big 12 Conference, lowered her mark yet again to 1.22 through 68.2 innings this spring, and recorded her fourth effort this season with at least seven strikeouts, joining her appearances against then-No. 15 Missouri (9), Ohio State (7) and Providence (11).
Offensively, the Knights’ four hits came courtesy of pinch-hitter Kendall Yarnell, who extended her Big 12 Conference lead in pinch hits to six this season with her 13th collegiate hit overall, Samantha Rey, Beth Damon and Aubrey Evans.
UP NEXT
The Knights look to even the series against Baylor in Saturday’s game two. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. ET from Getterman Stadium and will be streamed on ESPN+.
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