Vega earned her recognition after leading UCF’s pitching staff in starts, ERA, complete games, shutouts, innings pitched, strikeouts and batting average-against, and also ranking among NCAA national leaders in ERA (1.70, 16th), WHIP (0.98, 15th), fewest hits allowed/7 IP (4.90, 20th), shutouts (5, T-29th) and K:BB ratio (2.89, 83rd). She threw her first career no-hitter at Kansas May 2 as well, ensuring the team would throw multiple no-hitters for the fourth straight season.
Her 0.89 ERA and .138 batting average-against in Big 12 Conference play both led the league, and she also ranked among Big 12 Conference leaders in shutouts (5, T-2nd), ERA (1.70, 3rd), fewest hits allowed/7 IP (4.90, 3rd), WHIP (0.98, 3rd), batting average-against (.197, 3rd), K:BB ratio (2.89, 5th), total strikeouts (110, 5th), complete games (7, T-6th), games started (20, 7th), innings pitched (135.2, T-7th), winning decisions (14, T-7th), and fewest walks allowed/7 IP (1.96, 8th).
Damon, meanwhile, slugged eight home runs throughout her debut season, tying teammate and fellow freshman Izzy Mertes for the third-most by a Knights freshman in program history.
The catcher hit .277/.343/.493 (41-for-148) with 17 runs scored, six doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 73 total bases, nine walks, 37 RBI and one stolen base. Her 37 RBI led the team, and she also recorded nine multi-hit games, two multi-homer showings, and in an 11-0 run-rule win over Arizona State March 15, recorded the second-most RBI by a player in a single game in program history (7).
ROUNDING OUT THE TROPHY CASE
In addition to its two freshman All-America selections, UCF also saw five players garner All-Big 12 Conference laurels and three NFCA All-Region appointments.
Isabella Vega earned NFCA All-Gulf Region First Team honors, All-Big 12 First Team recognition, and unanimous All-Big 12 Freshman Team recognition, and was joined by junior shortstop Aubrey Evans and sophomore third baseman Sierra Humphreys on the All-Big 12 Conference Second Team, as well as Beth Damon and Izzy Mertes on the All-Big 12 Freshman Team. Mertes was tabbed to the NFCA’s All-Gulf Region Second Team, and Evans garnered NFCA All-Gulf Region Third Team distinction as well.