ORLANDO – The Knights had to demonstrate a bit more patience than normal, but a five-run bottom of the first inning powered the UCF softball team to its 9-1 run-rule victory over the Wagner Seahawks Friday evening, 9-1.
The effort represented the Black and Gold’s seventh straight win and 18th in their first 22 games, moving the program to 18-4 overall and 15-2 on their home field entering play Saturday. UCF also needs just one more victory to reach the 900 all-time wins plateau.
The Knights authored their latest winning effort with a keen eye for the strike zone in the home half of the first inning, following an Aubrey Evans leadoff single with seven consecutive walks to drive in the first five runs of the contest. Each of Sierra Humphreys, Beth Damon, Zoe Calvez, Samantha Rey and Evans drew bases-loaded, run-scoring walks in the inning.
Two more walks and a hit-by-pitch proceeded yet another bases-loaded free pass issued by Wagner in the bottom of the second inning, drawn by Calvez, to extend UCF’s lead to 6-1, before Evans and Damon slugged home runs in back-to-back innings in the third and fourth frames.
Evans’ third-inning solo shot represented her third of the season, while Damon slugged her team-leading seventh home run to move to within one of her previous season high of eight set last spring.
With their latest two home runs, the Knights have now hit five long balls in their last two games, seven in their last four contests, and 26 on the season, good for third most in the Big 12 Conference behind only Houston’s 32 and Texas Tech’s 29.
Izzy Mertes drove in the game-ending score in the home half of the fifth on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, clinching her squad’s eighth run-rule win of the year.
Entering play Saturday, UCF can also now stake its claim to four players with at least 20 RBI on the season in Humphreys (25), Damon (24), Mertes (23) and Kendall Yarnell (23).
In the circle Friday, freshman left-hander Hildie Dempsey was tabbed for her 13th appearance and sixth start of the year, performing admirably in battling a steady downpour throughout the evening to turn in five innings of one-run ball.
The southpaw allowed just two Seahawks hits while recording all 15 Wagner outs on the ground to earn her sixth winning decision of the year.
UP NEXT
The Knights look to conclude play in the 2026 Charge On Classic with a Saturday doubleheader after their Friday contest against Florida A&M was pushed to Saturday due to inclement weather. First pitch for UCF’s contest against George Washington is set for 5 p.m.
ABOUT UCF ATHLETICS
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program, representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.