ORLANDO – A catalyst in the now-No. 15 UCF softball team’s statement series win over then-No. 12 Oklahoma State over the weekend, redshirt sophomore right-hander Isabella Vega once again earned national weekly recognition.
For her efforts in Stillwater, Vega earned the program’s first Sports Illustrated National Pitcher of the Week honor, marking the second weekly honor she’s earned this season and the fourth national weekly award garnered by the Bradenton native in the last two seasons.
The right-hander was key in leading her squad to the first road win over Oklahoma State in program history, as well as the Knights’ first series win over the Cowgirls overall. She totaled a team-leading 11.2 innings, producing a 0.00 ERA with just seven hits allowed, nine strikeouts and a .167 batting average-against.
She first went the distance in the teams’ Friday series-opener, allowing just a single unearned score on two hits in UCF’s 4-1 win, becoming the first pitcher since Nebraska ace Jordyn Frahm (formerly Jordyn Bahl) Feb. 28, 2025, to throw a seven-inning complete game with two or fewer hits allowed to Oklahoma State.
The effort also marked Vega’s third career appearance with at least seven innings pitched and one or fewer runs allowed against a ranked opponent, joining her dominant relief effort in the Knights’ 6-5 comeback win over then-No. 15 Missouri Feb. 11, 2025, and her seven-inning shutout against then-No. 3 Florida in Orlando March 26, 2025.
Vega then spun a team-high 4.2 innings to help lead her squad to its series-clinching 6-4 win, allowing just three unearned scores on five hits with five strikeouts to earn her second winning decision of the weekend.
Following the conclusion of UCF’s first weekend of conference action, Vega has tossed a team-high 17.1 innings in five appearances against ranked opponents this season, recording a 1.62 ERA with 13 strikeouts and a .200 batting average-against.
She enters play in this weekend’s series against the Baylor Bears the owner of a 1.47 ERA through her first 15 appearances spanning 52.1 innings this spring, and ranks among Big 12 Conference leaders in saves (3, 1st), ERA (5th), fewest hits allowed per seven innings (5.08, 7th), complete games (3, T-7th), strikeouts (T-7th), innings pitched (9th), and WHIP (1.17, 9th).
UP NEXT
Vega and the No. 15 UCF softball team is set for its Big 12 Conference home-opening series against the visiting Baylor Bears. First pitch for Friday’s series-opener is set for 6 p.m. from the UCF Softball Complex and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
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.