STILLWATER, Okla. – Well into year eight of her tenure in Orlando, UCF softball head coach Cindy Ball-Malone continues to make history with her squad.
The Knights last season matched a single-season program record with seven ranked wins, setting a myriad of other program records along the way, and with their second 2026 victory over a top 25 opponent Friday evening clinched the program’s first road win over the Oklahoma State Cowgirls in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
“I didn’t know that, but that’s crazy. I’m just really proud of this team and the belief we had. It was so much fun to be a part of.”
Izzy MertesSophomore utilityMertes provided the early run support, and redshirt sophomore right-hander Isabella Vega made it stand as the No. 23 Knights downed the 12th-ranked Cowgirls, 4-1, to kick off the Big 12 Conference portion of their 2026 campaign at Cowgirl Stadium.
The effort represented UCF’s second ranked win of the season, both over top 12 teams, joining its 5-1 victory over then-No. 10 LSU in Clearwater Feb. 14, as well as its 10th consecutive victory, clinching the program’s first 10-game win streak since April 2-17, 2024.
The Black and Gold also toppled a top 12 opponent to begin Big 12 Conference play for the second consecutive season, after the 2025 Knights bested then-No. 4 Arizona in consecutive contests to earn the highest-ranked series win in program history March 7-9.
“I’m very proud of everyone, defense, offense, pitching, it was all on tonight. We just want to continue to push the momentum on into tomorrow and Sunday and throughout the rest of conference play.”
Isabella Vegaright-handed pitcherVega, in toeing the rubber for her 13th appearance and fifth start of the 2026 campaign, authored yet another signature display in spinning a seven-inning complete game two-hitter, yielding just one unearned run to the Cowgirls Friday evening.
Oklahoma State’s two hits marked a season low for the squad, their fewest hit total since the Knights also held the Cowgirls to two hits in Orlando April 19, 2025. In yielding just the two hits, Vega also became the first arm since Nebraska ace Jordy Frahm on Feb. 28, 2025, to spin a seven-inning complete game with two or fewer hits allowed against Oklahoma State.
Staked to a three-run lead before throwing a single pitch thanks to a first-inning three-run home run by Mertes, Vega retired the side in order in the bottom of the first inning and stranded a leadoff double in the home half of the second.
A hit-by-pitch and a walk were left on base in the third, and Vega again worked around two more baserunners in the fourth, inducing a pair of foulouts and a groundout to keep Oklahoma State off the scoreboard.
“I have so much confidence in her, and no matter the situation, I know that she’s going to bring her best. She’s confident, and playing behind her, you just want to go all out for her. I know she’s going to bring her best stuff, and it’s hard to hit off of her. We’re just doing our best to make plays behind her.”
Izzy Merteson Isabella VegaVega fanned her second Cowgirl of the evening in a perfect fifth inning, and tightroped around a bases-loaded, none out situation in the sixth with just the one run allowed to preserve her team’s two-run advantage. The right-hander added her fourth punchout of the night in a 1-2-3 seventh frame to clinch her squad’s second win over Oklahoma State in the Cindy Ball-Malone era.
FIRE US UP ISA 🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/IOswPDffnE pic.twitter.com/30aHj4AjRd
— UCF Softball (@UCF_Softball) March 7, 2026
“That’s why she stayed out there,” Ball-Malone continued. “We’ve been focusing on approaching the three-game series just as one full game of play, and so we thought about piecing together the game. As we saw their gameplan of bringing Ruby Meylan in at the time they did, and how Isa was rolling, we knew it was her game to win.”
Mertes’ home run in the first inning against Cowgirls starter RyLee Crandall marked her seventh of the season, leaving the Chatsworth, California, native one shy of matching her season total from her freshman 2025 campaign.
She also pulled even with fellow sophomore Beth Damon atop the team’s home run leaderboard through 25 games, and UCF now enters game two of the series with 27 home runs on the season after having hit just six through the program’s first 25 games last season.
Junior infielder/outfielder Samantha Rey added the Knights’ fourth tally of the evening in the top of the seventh inning against Oklahoma State ace Ruby Meylan, cashing in on an Ashleigh Griffin one-out single with an RBI triple down the left field line, allowing pinch-runner Ayala Durant to restore her team’s three-run advantage.
The triple marked the second of Rey’s collegiate career, and her first since UCF’s 11-4 win over North Florida April 2, 2024.
“It goes to having experience and understanding what this group has set out to accomplish and keeping the standard the standard and focusing on us,” Ball-Malone added.
UP NEXT
UCF looks to clinch the series with a win in game two over the Cowgirls Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. ET from Cowgirl Stadium 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.