No. 23 Softball Clinches Regional Final Berth with 10-1 Win over StetsonNo. 23 Softball Clinches Regional Final Berth with 10-1 Win over Stetson

No. 23 Softball Clinches Regional Final Berth with 10-1 Win over Stetson

by Ryan Ladika
Box Score

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On the heels of its NCAA Tallahassee Regional-opening 2-1 win over Jacksonville State Friday evening, the UCF softball team recognized the necessity for better at-bats in their next game against Stetson Saturday.

While they accomplished their end goal of a triumphant result, the Knights managed just a pair of tallies against the Gamecocks, one in the seventh inning and the second, representing the game-winner, in the eighth.

A 10-run, 12-hit attack against the Hatters on Saturday was the fruit of the squad’s commitment to improvement at the plate.

“We were more disciplined. We harped on being a tough out, and today we were tough outs and swung at pitches we wanted to swing at, instead of getting ourselves out. That was the difference from yesterday’s game to today.”

Aubrey Evansshortstop

The Knights were relentless in their second meeting with Stetson this season, scoring in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings to cruise to a 10-1 run-rule victory and secure their spot in Sunday’s Regional Final.

The squad’s winning effort clinched the program’s first regional final appearance without having suffered a prior defeat since the 2022 Knights swept their way through the NCAA Orlando Regional, and the team’s second consecutive NCAA Regional Final berth after the squad advanced to Sunday action a season ago in Austin, Texas.

UCF also locked down its 40th win of the season overall, producing its first season with at least 40 wins since joining the Big 12 Conference and its fourth 40-win season in the Cindy Ball-Malone era.

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“I’m really proud of this group, we’re focused on continuing to move on and our next pitch, but to take a second to celebrate what they’ve done is so awesome. Starting with Ava Stuewe in the circle and the team responding to a real tight game yesterday. I love how they came out free swinging and passing the bat.”

Cindy Ball-Malonehead coach

Among UCF’s recent history against the Hatters, the contest marked the Knights’ fourth straight win over Stetson, and second victory in that span that saw the Black and Gold eclipse double digit runs scored.

The Knights began chipping away early, loading the bases with two outs in the top of the second inning on a pair of walks drawn by Ashleigh Griffin and Coco Jaimes and a single up the middle by Samantha Rey.

Evans, UCF’s leadoff hitter, was due up next, and blasted the fourth pitch of her at-bat over the left-center field wall, dealing a crucial offensive blow with her second career grand slam and UCF’s sixth grand slam of the season.

“I’ve been looking for my pitch, being stubborn for the pitch I want. Earlier this week I was visualizing some things that could go on this weekend. That happened to be one of them, not really a grand slam, but I visualized something getting hit out of the park elevated, up in the zone. It came to life. I’m proud of the team for putting me in that position, kudos to the team and the buy-in we had today.”

Aubrey Evansshortstop

The Knights seized their 4-0 lead and never looked back. Griffin and Rey both drove in scores in a two-run second, Kendall Yarnell tied Beth Damon for the team lead with her 15th home run of the year in the top of the fourth, and three more came across in the fifth on a Yarnell sacrifice fly to left field and a two-run Damon double.

Eight of the Knights’ nine offensive starters recorded at least one hit in the offensive onslaught, led by Evans’ first career NCAA Tournament three-hit game and her sixth three-plus-hit display of the season.

Damon and Izzy Mertes both notched multi-hit outings as well, with the former extending her RBI streak to six consecutive games dating back to UCF’s series-opener at Iowa State May 1.

The team’s prolific offensive display was more than enough for freshman right-hander Ava Stuewe, who was making her first career NCAA Tournament appearance and her 13th start of the season.

The Fredericksburg, Texas, native gave the Knights the shutdown outing in the circle they were looking for, spinning four innings of one-run ball to keep the run-rule intact.

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She stranded a pair of Hatters in the bottom of the first inning, limited Stetson to a single tally in the home half of the second, and retired six of the final seven hitters she faced to earn her first postseason winning decision.

Ball-Malone then called upon Isabella Vega in relief for the second straight game, and UCF’s staff leader slammed the door shut with a spotless fifth inning.

“We talked yesterday about our gameplan going in about how we were going to approach this game and the execution. Me and Isa did that coming in, we were focused on bringing each other forward.”

Ava Stueweright-handed pitcher

The Knights will face the No. 9 overall seed and host Florida State Seminoles in Sunday’s NCAA Tallahassee Regional Final, beginning at 12 p.m. ET from JoAnne Graf Field.

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.