One of the more dominant pitchers in UCF softball’s program history, former AAC Pitcher of the Year and All-Big 12 First Team selection Sarah Willis will remain with the team as a graduate assistant ahead of the spring 2025 season.
“Getting to learn from one of the best pitching coaches in the nation in coach Cindy Ball-Malone is definitely one of the main reasons I wanted to stay,” Willis said. “Getting to continue on a legacy at UCF and helping the program build is something I want to do. I want to help pitchers and everybody get better.”
Upon completing her collegiate career this past spring, Willis joined the professional ranks with Athletes Unlimited throughout the summer, posting a 3.62 ERA in 23.2 innings of work with 13 strikeouts during AUX play. She later returned for AU’s Championship season, notching one save and seven strikeouts in 11.2 innings pitched spanning her four appearances.
“This role will help keep me in softball, and I’m able to still practice because I want to continue playing as long as I can,” Willis continued. “I also have the opportunity to learn about coaching and all the little things that you don’t usually think about when you’re watching somebody during a game. Getting those opportunities and learning what’s most important will help boost myself toward an eventual coaching career.”
The former transfer two-way player concluded her two-year Knights tenure as one of the more decorated pitchers to don the Black and Gold. On the respective UCF all-time career lists, Willis ranked sixth in lowest batting average-against (.198) and lowest ERA (1.98), seventh in saves (3), ninth in winning decisions (29), strikeouts (239), innings pitched (289.2), and shutouts (7), and 10th in complete games (21) at the time of her graduation.
The Ontario, California, native in her final collegiate season in 2024 earned NFCA All-Region Second Team and All-Big 12 First Team honors while also becoming the first Knight in program history to be named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week.
In helping lead the Knights to the first Big 12 Conference win in program history over the Kansas Jayhawks March 8, 2024, Willis became the first Knights pitcher since 2014 to throw a complete game in the circle and record multiple RBI at the plate.
Weeks later, Willis became the first pitcher of any NCAA Division I program since 2022 to throw a seven-inning complete game with two or fewer hits allowed to the Oklahoma Sooners April 27, while also holding the then-No. 2 Sooners to a season-low two runs scored.
“Just the atmosphere of UCF in general, it’s such a happy place to be,” Willis said of the program and the university. “There’s such a good feel with being here, and the people around here is one of the main reasons I came back as well.”
In postseason play, Willis was again at the center of the Black and Gold’s efforts, helping lead her team to the largest NCAA Tournament comeback victory in program history against the Auburn Tigers May 17, allowing just two earned runs in five innings pitched with five strikeouts as UCF came back from a four-run deficit to earn its 11-6 win.
One day later, Willis set UCF’s NCAA Tournament single-game program records for innings pitched (12) and total pitches (200) in her final appearance of the season against Auburn, throwing all 12 innings in UCF’s season-ending 2-1 loss. Her 12 innings, 51 batters faced, 42 opponent at-bats, 200 pitches and 16 induced groundouts all marked 2024 single-game Big 12 Conference highs as well.
The right-hander enjoyed a breakout season in her first year with the Knights in 2023, earning NFCA All-Region First Team, AAC Pitcher of the Year, AAC First Team All-Conference, AAC All-Tournament Team, and AAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors.
She also became the third pitcher in program history to earn a selection as Wilson/NFCA National Division I Pitcher of the Week (April 24-30) after throwing the first seven-inning perfect game in program history, followed by a seven-inning complete-game shutout, against the Houston Cougars.
“Having the chance to continue to be around the coaching and support staff, and getting to know coach Sanders and coach Pestrak has been great, while also continuing to be able to learn from coach Ball-Malone and coach Saile was important to me, because they’re two great pitchers. I want to help others succeed and be even better than I was.”