No. 15 Softball Takes Series-Opener Against Baylor, 4-3No. 15 Softball Takes Series-Opener Against Baylor, 4-3

No. 15 Softball Takes Series-Opener Against Baylor, 4-3

Knights improve to 23-5 through first 28 games in winning effort

by Ryan Ladika
Box Score

ORLANDO – In authoring its latest winning effort this spring, the No. 15 UCF softball team benefitted from a bit of small ball before two of its hottest hitters once again came through in a key spot.

With Friday evening’s affairs against the visiting Baylor Bears tied at one run apiece in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Knights managed to load the bases with nobody out on an Ashleigh Griffin walk, a Zoe Calvez bunt single and a fielder’s choice bunt play by Samantha Rey on which the Bears failed to notch an out.

“That’s why those slappers are in the game, is to put pressure on the defense and speed the game up,” said head coach Cindy Ball-Malone. “Getting the bunt down in those key moments, and we knew they were going to be aggressive in trying to get the lead runner.”

The stage was set for sophomore utility Izzy Mertes, who already plated UCF’s first tally of the game, to come through once more. She did, driving a 1-0 offering from Baylor starter Cambree Creager deep enough to right field to plate Ayala Durant from third.

After a Sierra Humphreys walk drawn on five pitches, sophomore catcher Beth Damon provided yet another key hit, driving a first-pitch single to right field that scored two more crucial runs and opened the Knights’ lead up to 4-1.

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Redshirt sophomore right-hander Isabella Vega made it stand in the circle, meanwhile, spinning her fourth seven-inning complete game of the season in the Black and Gold’s 4-3 victory over Baylor to kick off week two of Big 12 Conference play.

“We played solid, just a couple of things we’ve been working on that I’d like to see us do a little bit better. All in all, we got the clutch hitting and the pitching performance from Isa against a really tough team. I’m proud of Isa’s adjustments and how the team played behind her.”

Cindy Ball-Malonehead coach

UCF’s Friday evening win marked the squad’s 23rd in its first 28 games this spring, boosting its overall record to 23-5 and its mark in Big 12 Conference play to 3-1.

It also served as a continuation of a trend in the recent series between the Knights and Bears, as, including Friday’s contest, seven of the eight meetings between the two programs since UCF joined the Big 12 Conference have finished with one run serving as the difference.

Though UCF managed just four hits in the contest, they made each one count. Mertes first cashed in on Aubrey Evans’ third-inning two-out walk with an RBI double off the left-center field fence, giving her team an early 1-0 advantage before the team’s three-run fifth frame.

Mertes, in going 2-for-2 with her double and two RBI, recorded her second consecutive multi-hit showing, her fifth multi-hit outing in her last six games, and her 10th of the season.

Dating back to UCF’s 6-2 victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Feb. 21, Mertes is hitting a team-best .538 (21-for-39) in her last 13 games, accompanied by a .558 on-base percentage, a team-leading 1.051 slugging percentage, 12 runs scored, eight doubles, four home runs, 19 RBI, and 41 total bases.

The Chatsworth, California, native also added her 33rd and 34th RBI of the season in the winning effort, and has driven in at least one run in nine of her last 11 games, including multiple runs six times in that span.

“I was just trying to take the lead and get ahead early. It was scoreless for too long, so I was trying to attack first and set the tone for the rest of the game.”

Izzy Merteson her third-inning RBI double

Damon, responsible for UCF’s other two RBI Friday evening, also recorded her second straight multi-RBI showing and her eighth game of her last 10 with at least one run driven in.

The Edmond, Oklahoma, native also extended her hit streak to eight consecutive games dating back to the Knights’ game two 8-1 win over Dartmouth Feb. 26, a span during which she is hitting .455 (10-for-22) with seven runs scored, five extra-base hits, 12 RBI and 23 total bases.

“I was just looking for something on the outer part of the plate, Coach Noah talked to me about that at-bat, hunting that pitch. I got it first pitch, and just swung and it went my way. I’ve working on trying to see the ball well and stick more to the plan in my at-bats.”

Beth Damonon her fifth-inning two-run single

In going the distance for the fourth time this season, Vega, Friday’s starting pitcher, allowed just the three runs, two earned, on five hits while striking out three. Through her first 59.1 innings this season, the Bradenton native now owns a 1.53 ERA with an even 50 strikeouts.

"She did a really good job," Damon said of Vega. "Even after giving up the home run, she came right after the next hitter. That’s something that’s hard to do, and she works very hard. She gave me her best stuff, that’s all I can ask for."

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Full game highlights of UCF Softball vs Baylor on March 13, 2026.

UP NEXT
UCF looks to take the series over Baylor with a win in Saturday afternoon’s game two. First pitch is set for 4 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.