No. 22 Softball Slugs Eight Homers in 16-1 Game One Victory over HoustonNo. 22 Softball Slugs Eight Homers in 16-1 Game One Victory over Houston

No. 22 Softball Slugs Eight Homers in 16-1 Game One Victory over Houston

Evans matches program single-game record with first career three-homer game

by Ryan Ladika
Box Score

HOUSTON, Texas – An integral part of the foundation of the program head coach Cindy Ball-Malone operates, she often stresses to her team that they take the field not only playing for what’s ahead of them, but for who came before as well.

In helping lead her team to a historic offensive performance in Friday’s series-opener against the Houston Cougars, then, it seemed only fitting that it was senior Aubrey Evans’ jersey No. 3 that saw a trio of trips around the bases.

“That’s a huge honor, tying Stephanie Best’s record. What a legend to follow in that. Proud of her for paving the way and I’m just trying to follow in her footsteps, especially wearing her number and playing her same position.”

Aubrey Evansshortstop

In slugging three home runs Friday evening, Evans matched the program’s single-game record set by the most prolific hitter in the Black and Gold’s 25-year history, leading the charge in UCF’s 16-1 five-inning run-rule victory over the Cougars that featured eight long balls clubbed by Knights hitters.

The individual single-game record last set by Best came in the Knights’ 18-2 win over Army March 19, 2003, and the team collectively tied the single-game home run record it set close to a year ago in DeLand, Florida in the team’s 14-13 comeback win over Stetson April 23, 2025, with an eight-homer barrage.

Along with the three hit by Evans, redshirt senior Ashleigh Griffin and sophomore Kendall Yarnell both produced multi-home run contests, and junior second baseman Sierra Humphreys swatted her fifth of the season in UCF’s latest winning effort.

All eight of UCF's game one home runs against Houston March 27, 2026.

Each of UCF’s 16 runs were scored via a home run Friday evening, giving the program its second highest run output of the season, trailing only the squad’s 21-2 rout of Florida A&M Feb. 28. The Knights, who entered the contest with 30 homers on the season, also hit over 26 percent of their season total in Friday’s display alone to boost their season total to 38 entering Saturday’s game two.

In blasting its eight home runs, UCF also matched the nation’s single game season high accomplished by only four other programs on five occasions, in UCLA twice, Texas Tech, Michigan, and Oklahoma. No team this season has eclipsed the nine-homer mark in a single game.

“It makes it a lot of fun to be around. The vibes are high, and it goes to show how much power and effect we have on the offensive side. When we put up runs like that, it helps the pitchers out too. They’ve been doing great for us. I’m excited the bats were able to come around, and it continues to give us more confidence as well.”

Aubrey Evansshortstop

The senior shortstop produced her first career multi-homer game in the winning effort, as did Yarnell and Griffin, while Humphreys set a new single-season career high with her fifth of the spring.

Evans and Griffin ignited their squad’s offensive exploits Friday, trading home runs throughout the first three innings. The former gave UCF an early lead with a first-inning two run shot that just stayed fair inside the left field foul pole before Griffin pushed the advantage to five runs with a three-run home run later in the frame.

Evans then followed with her second in as many innings, again a two-run blast, and Griffin slugged her second of the contest over the Cougars’ videoboard in left field in the top of the third inning, opening up a 9-0 lead.

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“It’s definitely crazy, going back-to-back years with an eight-homer game. It definitely gives you momentum and confidence going to the plate to see your teammate in front of you pass the bat to you. It helps us go through each at-bat more confidently.”

Ashleigh Griffinfirst baseman

Yarnell then followed with her seventh homer of the season, also in the third inning, before the Knights produced a six-run fourth frame on the strength of Evans’ third of the game, Humphreys’ fifth of the year, and Yarnell’s second of the evening.

Six Knights combined to record 14 hits on the evening overall, led by Griffin’s first career four-hit game, while Evans, Humphreys, Yarnell and Samantha Rey each tallied multi-hit efforts as well. Evans and Griffin combined for 22 total bases on the evening, and Evans’ 12 total bases represented UCF’s highest individual single-game total since Best’s 12 in her aforementioned three-homer game against Army.

The contest also represented a continuation in Griffin’s trend of excellence against the Cougars throughout her career, as the Newnan, Georgia, native has how hit a combined .528 (19-for-36) with six home runs and 20 RBI in 11 career games against Houston.

Bolstered by the prolific display, the trio of redshirt sophomore Isabella Vega, freshman Reagan Vokoun and senior Lena Elkins combined to hold the Cougars to just one run on three hits on the other side, highlighted by Vega’s four innings of one-hit ball.

The display clinched UCF’s 26th victory of the spring, moving the squad to 26-10 through 36 games and representing the team’s best record through 36 games since the 2022 Knights produced a 29-7 mark through their first 36 contests.

“It shows how strong this team is offensively, and really puts into perspective that we can truly reach what we’ve set out to accomplish.”

Ashlegih Griffinfirst baseman

UP NEXT
UCF looks to continue its momentum in game two of the series in Houston, set for 4 p.m. ET from Cougar Softball Stadium.

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.