Softball Earns Highest-Ranked Series Win in Program History with 5-4 Win at No. 4 ArizonaSoftball Earns Highest-Ranked Series Win in Program History with 5-4 Win at No. 4 Arizona

Softball Earns Highest-Ranked Series Win in Program History with 5-4 Win at No. 4 Arizona

by Ryan Ladika
Box Score

TUCSON, Ariz. – As right-hander Kaitlyn Felton completed a glove flip to her first baseman Ashleigh Griffin for the game’s final out, the latest of the demonstrably euphoric reactions the senior is famous for said it all.

On a clear, sunny evening at Hillenbrand Stadium in Tucson, Arizona, the UCF softball team made history.

“It’s so exciting. This team is so fun to play with, and I hope everyone can see it when we’re out there and being loud. Our defense right now is phenomenal. I hope we’re making it hard for other teams to come beat us because we’re coming with good energy.”

Kaitlyn Feltonsenior RHP

On the back of another resilient offensive display, sound defense and a strong day in the circle, the Knights recorded their second straight win over No. 4 Arizona, 5-4, and clinched the highest-ranked series win in the history of the program.

“You don’t think about those kinds of things when you’re going through these matchups,” said head coach Cindy Ball-Malone. “I’m really proud of the program, this team and this group, and just how feisty they’ve been this weekend.”

LAD04247

The Black and Gold (19-7-1, 2-0 Big 12) notched their fourth ranked win of the season overall and second top-four win, as well as the seventh all-time top four win in the program’s history. UCF also owns four ranked wins in a single season for the first time since the 2022 Knights notched seven ranked victories en route to the first NCAA Super Regional berth in program history.

Against a fourth-ranked Wildcats (21-4, 0-2 Big 12) team that entered the weekend with just two losses in its first 23 games, the Knights have now doubled that total in the last two days alone, while on Thursday also recording a single-game season high 15 total hits.

They did it in spite of an early deficit, as Arizona struck for a run in both of the first two innings to take a 2-0 lead entering the third frame.

A leadoff double by sophomore third baseman Sierra Humphreys kickstarted UCF’s offensive efforts, which was immediately followed by a two-run home run off the bat of junior shortstop Aubrey Evans that tied the affairs at two runs apiece.

Evans’ latest long ball, her second of the season and sixth of her career, also represented the second home run of her career against a top four-ranked opponent, joining her first career home run against then-No. 2 Oklahoma State in Stillwater March 19, 2023.

“She kept pounding me inside, and I told myself to find the middle part of the plate, and when she put it there I’m going to put a good swing on it. Fortunately, she put it where I was looking for it and I was able to leave the yard. I was super excited about it.”

Aubrey Evansjunior shortstop

The pendulum swung back Arizona’s way moments later, when Friday’s starting pitcher Devyn Netz gave the Wildcats the lead right back with a solo home run to lead off their half of the third.

UCF stayed the course offensively, though, tying the game once more at 3-3 in the fourth on an Evans single and a crafty slide by Humphreys at the plate after an Arizona fielding error afforded her an opportunity to score.

LAD04579

The team’s defense once again shone through for its staff a half-inning later, when fifth year transfer Madison Simon made one of the most crucial defensive plays of the season. Left fielder Dakota Kennedy led off the inning with a deep drive to center field, but Simon’s reach over the fence was just long enough to haul it in for the first out of the frame.

The catch factored into one of Simon’s strongest games not only as a Knight, but in her four-plus-year career, as she recorded her first NCAA four-hit game with a trio of singles and a third-inning double.

“She’s been working on that play so much this year. To watch it happen was incredible. I feel like I may have called the wrong pitch and then saw her grab it, and it looked so easy. She told me she didn’t even know it was going to go over.”

Cindy Ball-Maloneon Simon's HR-robbing catch

The Knights finally took the lead they needed in the fifth, on Ashleigh Griffin’s fifth-inning two-run blast that scored Izzy Mertes, who doubled to lead off the frame. The home run marked Griffin’s second of the weekend, second of her season and 11th of her career.

Working with a 5-3 advantage, Ball-Malone placed her trust once again in Felton to close the contest out for the second consecutive day. The senior, in the midst of the strongest season of her career, rewarded that trust once again.

She stranded a pair in the bottom of the fourth with a groundout to third base, left two more on base in the fifth with her first strikeout, and again danced out of danger in the sixth, limiting Arizona to a single unearned tally despite three Wildcats reaching base.

As she did just under 24 hours before, Felton successfully closed out the Knights’ winning effort with a clean seventh, working around a leadoff single with a flyout and a pair of groundouts.

“I’ve just been accepting my role,” Felton said. “Me and coach Bear have talked a lot about my role and what I need to do when I’m out there, so I just focus on doing my best for my team and whatever needs to be done in the moment.”

UP NEXT

UCF will try for the third Big 12 Conference series sweep in program history in the teams’ series finale Sunday morning. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. EDT/10 a.m. PDT, and will be streamed on ESPN+.

FOLLOW THE KNIGHTS

Follow UCF softball on X (@UCF_Softball), Instagram (@UCF.Softball) and Facebook (/UCFSoftball).

GET THE APP

Never miss any UCF Knights news from your favorite teams by downloading the free UCF Knights app right to your iOS or Android devices. The app provides personalized information for men’s and women’s teams, scores, schedules, loyalty programs and breaking news. Click here to download the app now.