CAREER AWARDS/ACCOLADES
- NFCA All-Gulf Region Second Team (2025)
- All-Big 12 Conference Freshman Team (2025)
FRESHMAN (2025)
- Named to Softball America's Preseason Freshman Watch List.
- Selected to the NFCA's All-Gulf Region Second Team as well as the Big 12 Conference's post-season All-Big 12 Freshman Team.
- Appeared in and started 59 of UCF's 60 games in the outfield, at designated player, and at third base, hitting .315/.421/.570 (52-for-165) with 30 runs scored, 16 doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 94 total bases, 30 walks, 35 RBI and one stolen base.
- Led UCF in doubles (16) and walks (30).
- Her 16 doubles ranked second-most in the Big 12 Conference, and ranked tied for third in the league in doubles per game (0.27).
- Recorded her first two career hits in UCF's season-opening 10-0 win over CSU Bakersfield Feb. 6, including her first double and RBI.
- Recorded four multi-hit games in a six-game span from Feb. 9-14 against James Madison, then-No. 15 Missouri, then-No. 20 Liberty and Auburn, going 8-for-18 with two runs scored, five doubles, four RBI and 13 total bases in that span.
- Notched her first career multi-double game in UCF's Feb. 9 win over James Madison, driving in the go-ahead run with a sixth-inning RBI double.
- Recorded her second consecutive multi-double game in helping lead UCF to the largest comeback win against a ranked opponent in program history (five runs) against then-No. 15 Missouri Feb. 11, going 2-for-4 with three RBI.
- Hit her seventh double of the year in Kaitlyn Felton's seven-inning no-hitter against Quinnipiac Feb. 20, as her first inning RBI double represented the game-winning score.
- Went 2-for-3 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored in UCF's 8-0 run-rule win over Columbia Feb. 22.
- Went 1-for-2 with an RBI double in the Knights' 3-0 road shutout win over then-No. 22 Florida Atlantic.
- Recorded her first career three-hit game in UCF's 6-0 win over North Florida March 1, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored, one double, one home run, seven total bases and five RBI in the effort.
- Hit safely in each of UCF's three games at then-No. 4 Arizona March 7-9, going 4-for-9 with two runs scored, one double and five total bases in the series.
- Went 1-for-2 with two walks and three runs scored in UCF's 11-0 run-rule win over Arizona State March 15.
- Hit her third home run of the season in UCF's 4-0 home win over then-No. 3 Florida March 26, a two-run shot in the bottom of the fifth inning to help bolster Isabella Vega's seven-inning complete game shutout.
- Doubled and walked twice in UCF's 7-2 win at Baylor March 30.
- Hit her first career triple in UCF's series finale at BYU April 12.
- Against then-No. 21 Oklahoma State ace Ruby Meylan April 19, went 2-for-4 with a run scored, an RBI double and a solo home run, recording six total bases.
- Recorded her first career multi-home run game in helping lead UCF to the largest overall comeback win in program history (11 runs) at Stetson April 23, hitting a two-run homer in the top of the third inning and a solo shot in the top of the fifth; her third-inning home run helped the Knights set a program record for most home runs in a single inning (five).
- Notched back-to-back multi-hit games in the first two games of UCF's series at Kansas May 2-3, hitting two doubles and a solo home run with a pair of runs scored between the two contests, helping UCF earn the series sweep over the Jayhawks.
- Between the Knights' two Big 12 Conference Championship contests against Utah and then-No. 10 Arizona, went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two walks.
- Hit safely in three of UCF's four NCAA Austin Regional contests, highlighted by her eighth home run of the season against then-No. 25 Michigan May 17, a game-tying solo home run in the fifth inning that preceeded Madison Simon's go-ahead two-run single and helped send the Knights to the Regional Final against then-No. 3 Texas.
HIGH SCHOOL
- Ranked a four-star infielder by Softball America/On3, and represents one of two four-star infielders in UCF's 2024-25 freshman class (Beth Damon).
- Won two championships, including the 2021 Foothill League title and the 2022 Gold Coast League title
- With the OC Batbusters in travel ball, helped lead her squad to two Alliance National Championships in 2022 and 2023, as well as an Alliance Super Cup Championship in 2023
- Hit .566 during her junior season, marking her third straight season with an average north of .470, and in three years in high school slugged 30 home runs
“I have been playing softball my whole life, and my dream has been to play college softball,” Mertes said. “UCF has allowed me to achieve this dream. I chose UCF because I love Florida and the beach, since I am from California. I also loved the environment of the team and the coaching staff. Beyond softball, I believe UCF has the academic rigor and competitiveness I am looking for which helps make it a perfect fit.”
ABOUT IZZY
Major: Business; Minor: Sports Management ... Favorite pro athlete: Caitlin Clark ... Favorite pro team: Los Angeles Dodgers ... Pregame ritual: Listening to music ... Favorite off day activity: Sleeping and hanging out with friends ... Favorite music artist: Drake ... Go-to karaoke song: California Girls ... Nickname growing up: Bella Bee ... Favorite sport outside softball: Pickleball ... Dream vacation desitination: Brazil.