ORLANDO – A consistent point of emphasis from head coach Cindy Ball-Malone to the teams that represent the UCF softball program each year is that her squad is not only playing for right now, but also for the program’s legacy and future.
“Tonight were two games for the past, present and future,” she said. “That is for any UCF Knight who has played here at the Plex or at the other facility. What a proud moment for the Knights program and anyone who’s played in it. Many more to come, and we’re excited for that, and the team knew what was at stake for today.”
As the Knights put the finishing touches on their 19th and 20th wins of the 2026 spring season Saturday evening, the squad also clinched the 900th victory in the history of the program and put on a prolific offensive display on the final day of the Charge On Classic.
The Black and Gold, now 20-4 through 24 games, kept their early-season momentum rolling with two convincing Saturday victories over George Washington, 5-1, and Florida A&M, 21-2, at the UCF Softball Complex.
The program’s 20-4 start to the spring campaign matches the 2021, 2020 and 2015 teams for the best 24-game start to a season in program history, trailing only the 2002 team now, and UCF extended its active win streak to nine straight games and improved to 17-2 at home as well.
“I’m super grateful and blessed to be a part of that,” said senior shortstop Aubrey Evans. “This program is something special, and it means a lot to this program, with how good it is and how good it’s going to continue to be. I’m really grateful to be a part of that and excited to see how many more we can get this year.”
UCF earned its first Saturday win behind a dominant performance from redshirt sophomore right-hander Isabella Vega, an effort that saw her produce the first double-digit strikeout performance by a Knights pitcher this season.
The Bradenton native spun her second seven-inning complete game of the year, striking out 10, while allowing only one run on six hits to join freshman southpaw Hildie Dempsey as the second Knight to eclipse 40 innings pitched this season.
“Got her strikeouts in, she did a really good job with that, but what I love about Isa is she wants to get better with every game," Ball-Malone continued. "I know she wanted to go for that shutout for her team. It’ll be a fun week because I know she’s going to get after it.”
The Knights jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the home half of the first on an Izzy Mertes RBI single that allowed pinch-runner Taylor Kittleman to score all the way from first base.
Vega, meanwhile, kept her team in the contest with her effort in the circle, striking out three in the first inning, three more in the third, and one in each of the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh frames.
UCF added on offensively in the fifth, scoring three times on a George Washington error, another Mertes RBI single, and a Beth Damon run-scoring double.
The Black and Gold’s nightcap saw its offense explode against the Florida A&M Rattlers, scoring a season high 21 times in their five-inning rout. UCF’s 21 runs marked the program’s most since it also scored 21 against Wisconsin during the 2024 Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational, and nine players notched at least one hit, led by multi-hit evenings by Aubrey Evans, Kendall Trimm, Izzy Mertes, Zoe Calvez and Shyanne Irvin.
UCF answered a two-run top of the first inning with an 11-run home half of the first, representing the team’s highest-scoring single inning since it scored 17 in the first inning against Bethune-Cookman March 15, 2007. The squad then added consecutive five-run frames in the third and fourth to punctuate their day.
With 26 total runs scored between their two contests, UCF clinched its second full day with at least 23 runs scored this season, joining its 13-0 and 10-0 victories over Boston U and CSU Bakersfield on Opening Day Feb. 5. The two days this spring marked the most runs scored by the program in a single day since the 2012 Knights plated 27 runs between two games of a doubleheader at UTEP April 6.
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.