ORLANDO – In setting out to conclude an undefeated weekend against the visiting Utah Utes, the No. 21 UCF softball team accomplished that end of its goal, though the key offensive hit eluded the Knights in Saturday’s series finale.
After completing nine innings in close to four hours’ time deadlocked at two runs apiece, the matchup between the two programs was ruled an official 2-2 tie as the contest reached the Utes’ drop-dead time.
“Utah made some great adjustments, and their starter did a really good job,” said head coach Cindy Ball-Malone. “For us, I would have liked to see us take better swings in hitter’s counts and we also made a few baserunning mistakes. Our pitchers did an awesome job holding Utah’s lineup at bay for nine innings today.”
The tie represents the first such result for either team this season, and the Knights’ first tie since the squad concluded its 2025 Clearwater Invitational matchup against Ohio State with an official 4-4 result due to inclement weather Feb. 16.
Ball-Malone Saturday utilized five different arms in UCF’s longest game by innings since the Knights and Iowa State Cyclones played nine innings in the teams’ series-opener in Orlando March 20, 2025.
The quintet of Tori Payne, Ava Stuewe, Reagan Vokoun, Isabella Vega and Lena Elkins combined to allow just two runs on seven hits in their nine frames to Utah, concluding a strong overall weekend in the circle that saw the Black and Gold’s staff produce an aggregate 1.11 ERA in 19 innings of work.
The Utes plated just three runs in the series and hit a for a combined .221 average, amassing just 15 hits in their 19 offensive innings. The three runs allowed by UCF to Utah throughout the weekend represented the second fewest allowed by the Knights in a Big 12 Conference series over the last two-plus seasons, trailing only the two runs allowed by UCF to Houston April 12-14, 2024.
UCF did manage to crack the scoreboard first in the game’s opening frame, breaking the ice on an RBI groundout by Izzy Mertes that plated Coco Jaimes after the latter doubled to lead off the inning.
While timely offense eluded the team for the next five innings, the Knights’ staff combined to yield just one score to Utah in that span, stranding 10 Utes baserunners from the first through sixth innings.
Payne, tabbed for her fifth start and 11th appearance overall this season by Ball-Malone, produced a strong effort to open the affairs for her squad, notching her third appearance of the season with at least three innings pitched and one or fewer runs allowed.
Stuewe and Vokoun both recorded an out before Ball-Malone called Vega’s number once again, who spun 2.2 frames of one-run ball with just two hits allowed in making her eighth appearance in UCF’s last eight games.
Elkins represented the final arm of the afternoon for her squad, concluding a dominant overall weekend with her second appearance consisting of two-plus scoreless frames. The senior yielded just one hit in her second appearance of the weekend, and finished the series with 4.1 spotless innings.
After Utah took a late 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh inning, UCF managed an answer in the home half via an Aubrey Evans sacrifice fly that plated Samantha Rey from third base.
The decisive go-ahead hit remained unattained by either squad in the eighth and ninth innings, though, as the contest was ruled official following the ninth frame.
UP NEXT
UCF looks for its third Big 12 Conference series win of the season in Tempe, Arizona, as the Knights will head west for a three-game set with the Arizona State Sun Devils at Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium. First pitch for Friday evening’s series-opener is set for
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.