OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT – The UCF softball team earned wins in five of its first six games during the program’s season-opening Black & Gold Classic, besting Boston U (13-0), CSU Bakersfield (10-0), Maryland twice (15-7, 9-1), and Buffalo (12-2)...the team has earned its third straight 5-1 start, already having clinched a win over a 2025 conference champion (Boston U, Patriot League)...the Knights outscored their opposition 61-15 throughout their 5-1 start, hitting three grand slams, nine homers overall, and earning two shutout wins.
A RECORD START – The Knights’ 61 runs scored entering play Wednesday evening represent the most in program history through a season’s first six games, and mark the third-most runs scored by any team in the nation, behind only UCLA (68) and Texas Tech (64)...the Knights’ +46 run differential after the first weekend of play also represents the second-best through six games in program history, behind only 2021 and 2003 (+49)...UCF’s 13-0 win over Boston U marked the team’s most prolific season-opener since 2021, when the program also toppled FGCU by a 13-0 final score, and gave UCF its third straight season-opener with at least 10 runs scored after the squad bested Howard, 10-2, Feb. 8, 2024, and CSU Bakersfield, 10-0, Feb. 6, 2025...the Black and Gold’s 23 combined runs between Thursday’s two contests marked the most scored by the program in a single day since the 2012 Knights scored 27 runs between two games of a twin bill at UTEP April 6...UCF earned back-to-back shutout wins to start a season for the first time since the 2021 Knights kicked off their season with consecutive shutouts against FGCU, 13-0 and 8-0...UCF’s nine home runs through its first six games represent the most a UCF team has hit through six games since the 2023 season, when the Knights slugged 12 long balls, highlighted by a five-homer game against then-No. 23 Missouri and a four-homer game against then-No. 25 Michigan during the Clearwater Invitational...the Knights’ five wins thus far have all come via a five-inning run rule, marking the first time in program history the Black & Gold has run-ruled their opposition in each of their first five wins of a season.
JUST GETTING STARTED – Freshman right-handed pitcher Ava Stuewe was named Big 12 Conference co-Freshman of the Week, along with Oklahoma State’s Jayelle Austin, for her efforts throughout the first weekend of play...Stuewe, the first winner of the Big 12’s newest weekly honor this spring, made three appearances, including two starts, throughout UCF’s season-opening Black & Gold Classic, posting a spotless 0.00 ERA in 5.2 innings with six strikeouts...she was instrumental in leading her squad to its first win of the season, tossing four scoreless innings against Boston U Feb. 5, issuing just one hit while striking out four...she later saw action in both of the Knights’ contests against Maryland, concluding her weekend on a high note with a scoreless fifth inning and two more punchouts in UCF’s 9-1 win over the Terrapins Feb. 8.
GRAND SLAM x3 – Among the offensive fireworks that highlighted the Knights’ opening weekend, UCF saw two different players hit three grand slams...sophomore utility player Kendall Yarnell hit UCF’s first home run of the season, a first-inning grand slam that helped lead her team to its 13-0 run-rule victory over Boston U Feb. 5, marking the second home run of her career, both of the pinch-hit variety...Yarnell then hit her second grand slam of the weekend in the bottom of the fourth inning of UCF’s come-from-behind 15-7 win over Maryland Feb. 7...UCF’s third grand slam of the weekend came off the bat of sophomore infielder/outfielder Izzy Mertes, part of her second career multi-homer game in the bottom of the second inning against Maryland Feb. 8...opening weekend marks the first time in program history that the Knights hit three grand slams in the span of one weekend...Yarnell also became the second player in program history (Stephanie Best, 2003) to hit multiple grand slams in the span of one weekend, and she also became the second player in program history to hit a grand slam on opening day (Ashley Van Ryn, Feb. 10, 2006)...Yarnell also joins Hillary Barrow, Farrah Sullivan, Jessica Ujvari and Cassady Brewer with two career grand slams, all tied for the second most career grand slams in program history behind Best (3).
MAGIC 8 BALL – Junior second baseman Sierra Humphreys represented the Knights’ offensive leader through the first six games, slashing .600/.684/1.333 (9-for-15) with three doubles, one triple, two home runs, four walks, nine RBI and three stolen bases in three tries...she hit safely in each of the Knights’ six con tests over the weekend, driving in at least one run in each, and notched an extra-base hit in five of UCF’s six games, including in each of the team’s first four games...she enters play against Missouri Wednesday night ranking among Big 12 Conference leaders in stolen bases (T-1st), total bases (T-2nd), slugging percentage (2nd), on-base percentage (T-2nd), average (T-3rd), doubles (T-3rd), home runs (T-3rd), total hits (4th), RBI (T-4th), and runs scored (5th)...following a strong first two years in Orlando, Humphreys entered the new season ranking among all-time UCF career leaders in batting average (min. 250 AB) (.346, 2nd), on-base percentage (.416, 4th), and slugging percentage (.500, 6th).
SPACE GAME MAGIC – As the Knights donned their Canaveral blue SpaceU uniforms for the first time in 2026 against the Maryland Terrapins Feb. 7, the team made a bit of history in its come-from-behind 15-7 run rule win...the contest marked the first time in program history UCF overcame a four-run deficit in a run rule victory, and also featured the highest-scoring inning (9 runs, fourth inning) since the Knights last season opened their April 18 game against then-No. 21 Oklahoma State with a nine-run first inning.
REMATCH WITH MISSOURI – The Knights face the Missouri Tigers in Orlando Wednesday night for the first time since the program’s historic 6-5, eight-inning victory against the then-No. 15 Tigers Feb. 11, 2025...After surrendering five first-inning runs, UCF came all the way back with one in the first inning, two in the third, two in the fifth, and the game-winning sixth run in the bottom of the eighth inning, clinching the largest comeback win against a ranked opponent in program history...then-redshirt freshman Isabella Vega starred with seven innings of scoreless ball in relief, striking out nine, while then-freshman utility player Izzy Mertes collected three of UCF’s six RBI.
PROTECT THE PLEX – The Knights have demonstrated a strong ability to defend their home field under head coach Cindy Ball-Malone, having authored four consecutive seasons with at least 20 wins at the UCF Softball Complex and five such seasons in the first six (not including the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season) during the Ball-Malone era overall (since and including 2019)...entering play against Missouri, UCF has produced an aggregate 148-56-1 (.724) record at home spanning Ball-Malone’s first seven years.
2025 IN REVIEW – The UCF softball team kicks off its 2026 season with an eye toward selection for its sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance after producing a 35-24-1 record in 2025...with the group’s 35 wins, UCF eclipsed the 30-win mark for the seventh straight year dating back to 2018 (not including the COVID-19-shortened 2020 campaign)...UCF’s 35-24-1 record included a 12-12 mark within Big 12 Conference play and a 20-12 record at home...the program’s 2025 season was highlighted by a single-season program record-tying seven ranked wins, including the highest-ranked series win in program history on the road against then-No. 4 Arizona March 7-9, the Knights’ first Big 12 Conference Tournament victory in program history against Utah in the first round, and the program’s first NCAA Regional Final appearance since 2022.
2026 AT A GLANCE – The Knights’ 2026 campaign consists of 54 total games, 35 home games, 14 true road games and five neutral site contests...UCF, for the second straight season, will also host a trio of home weekend tournaments throughout February...the Black and Gold’s 33 different 2026 opponents last season produced an aggregate 999-785-3 record, good for a .560 win percentage, and the Knights this spring will square off against 12 opponents that qualified for the 2025 NCAA Tournament, four that made it as far as the NCAA Super Regional round, and two that advanced to the 2025 Women’s College World Series, the Florida Gators and Texas Tech Red Raiders...four of the Knights’ 2026 opponents won their respective conference’s tournament or regular-season championship, and seven recorded 40+ win 2025 seasons.
RETURNING OFFENSE – The Knights return a significant percentage of their offensive exploits from the 2025 season, as 10 returning offensive players to this year’s squad were responsible for 354 total hits (79.9%), 210 total runs scored (79.5%), 58 total doubles (75.3%), 40 home runs (87%), 193 RBI (80.4%) and 546 total bases (81%) in 2025...UCF also brings back four offensive All-Big 12 Conference selections and two offensive NFCA All-Region picks from the 2025 campaign...the Knights’ returning offensive leaders by statistical category in 2025 include Sierra Humphreys (AVG - .355, OBP - .440, runs - 43, hits - 61), Aubrey Evans (SLG - .576, TB - 99, HR - 10), Izzy Mertes (2B - 16, BB - 30), and Beth Damon (RBI - 37).
EYE ON THE ROOKIES – A strong contingent of the Black and Gold’s 2026 freshman class have been recognized on national preseason watch lists between D1Softball.com and Softball America...infielder Kendall Trimm and right-handed pitcher Ava Stuewe were both tabbed to D1Softball’s D100 Freshman Watch List, while Trimm, Stuewe, outfielder Ayala Durant, left-handed pitcher/outfielder Hildie Dempsey, left-handed pitcher Reagan Vokoun, and right-handed pitcher Tori Payne were all included on Softball America’s preseason freshman watch list...Trimm and Dempsey headline UCF’s freshman class as members who garnered national rankings on Signing Day, as Trimm was tabbed the No. 57 player overall in the 2026 recruiting class by Softball America/On3, and No. 22 nationally on her club team by Extra Inning Softball in 2022...Dempsey, meanwhile, was slotted No. 33 overall in the 2026 signing class by PrepSoftball.com.
FACING FLORIDA FOES – Eight of UCF’s 54 regular-season contests feature matchups against fellow schools based in Florida, highlighted by the Knights’ scheduled April 24-25 home-and-home series against the Florida Gators...the Black and Gold produced a 6-2 record against in-state opponents in 2025, headlined by ranked wins over the then-No. 3 Gators at home March 26 and then-No. 22 Florida Atlantic Owls on the road Feb. 26, both coming by way of shutouts...head coach Cindy Ball-Malone enters her eighth season boasting a 51-22 record against in-state foes throughout her UCF tenure.
ALL-BIG 12 PRESEASON TEAM – After her selection to the All-Big 12 Conference First Team following a standout debut season, redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Isabella Vega has once again been recognized by her peers, representing her squad on the 2026 All-Big 12 Conference Preseason team...in conference play a season ago, Vega paced the Big 12 in ERA (0.89) and ranked among Big 12 Conference leaders overall 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)...she also led her team in starts, ERA, complete games, shutouts, innings pitched, strikeouts and batting average-against.