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The UCF Knights Softball team had its most historic series win in program history this weekend, taking two of three on the road against No. 4 Arizona.
It did not decide a conference championship, like winning the series at Wichita State did in 2022, but it did have a major impact beyond the field. It is a series win that transcends the sport.
Arizona is the New York Yankees of softball. It’s an analogy that not only applies on the field, the Wildcats won eight Women’s College World Series during the 90s and 2000s, but also off the field, former legendary head coach Mike Candrea, who was a Yankees fan, wanted his team’s jerseys to be similar to the Yankees and play in a stadium that, from a historical standpoint, is like the Old Yankee Stadium.
That is what the Knights, who began their softball program in 2002, the season following Arizona’s sixth title, were up against. Even in 2025, 18 years since their last title, the Wildcats are a World Series contender with arguably the best starting outfield in the sport... and UCF won.
All wins vs. Top 4-ranked teams in UCF Softball History
Date | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|
Date | Opponent | Score |
May, 18, 2008 | #1 Florida | 1-0 |
April 11, 2012 | #3 Florida | 2-0 |
April 4, 2018 | #4 Florida | 1-0 |
March 8, 2021 | #2 Arizona | 2-0 |
April 14, 2021 | #4 Florida | 7-0 |
March 7, 2025 | #4 Arizona | 9-3 |
March 8, 2025 | #4 Arizona | 5-4 |
This season, many folks wondered how good UCF can be with a young roster after graduating 11 seniors. So far so good, as the Knights have four wins against Top 25 teams.
Now, let’s round the bases and see how they pulled this off:
1st: Good Pitching and Timely Offense
TOP FOUR-RANKED W IN THE DESERT pic.twitter.com/4mrSjbcVPJ
— UCF Softball (@UCF_Softball) March 8, 2025
On Friday night, UCF threw both Isabella Vega and Kaitlyn Felton, shutting down a powerful Arizona offense. Vega allowed just four hits and one walk in 5.1 innings in the circle and struck out four batters, getting the win, but she gave up three runs– two earned. So, Felton entered for the final 1.2 innings, allowing no hits and a walk to the game’s final seven batters to earn her third save of the season.
On the Wildcats’ side, Devyn Netz gave up four runs – three earned – walked one, and struck out four as the Knights won 9-3.
The Knights, who entered Mike Candrea Field with six home runs across the season to that point, hit three out of the park on Friday night. They came from the bats of catcher Beth Damon, first baseman Ashleigh Griffin, and right fielder Stormy Kotzelnick, whose two-run shot in the seventh started a rally of five insurance runs that sealed the deal.
Ranked Dubs for the Knights
— Big 12 Studios (@big12studios) March 8, 2025
UCF vs. Arizona Softball Highlights⬇️#Big12SB | @UCF_Softball pic.twitter.com/pFCfZZevcB
2nd- UCF’s Leaders Led the Way
FELTON. NAILS.
— UCF Softball (@UCF_Softball) March 9, 2025
SERIES. WON. pic.twitter.com/gs2AZUvxG9
On Saturday night, UCF’s veteran leaders led the way to program history, clinching the series by pounding Arizona’s pitching by collecting a season-high 15 hits.
Aubrey's second career homer against a top-four ranked foe @_aubreyevans pic.twitter.com/AbxDXH3O1t
— UCF Softball (@UCF_Softball) March 8, 2025
Offensively, down 2-0 in the top of the third, shortstop Aubrey Evans hit a two-run home run that tied the game at two.
Meanwhile, on defense, center fielder Madison Simon made one of the greatest plays ever made by a UCF outfielder, robbing All-American left fielder Dakota Kennedy of a go-ahead home run in the bottom of the fourth.
MADI SIMON ARE YOU KIDDING?! https://t.co/BpjRLHBG6H pic.twitter.com/6aoQ8nocze
— UCF Softball (@UCF_Softball) March 9, 2025
The catch factored into one of Simon’s best games not only as a Knight but in her career, as Simon also recorded the first four-hit game of her collegiate career.
Instead of Arizona taking the lead, the Knights took it in the fifth with a two-run blast from Griffin, her second of the weekend.
HER SECOND OF THE WEEKEND!! https://t.co/JkfiftjdeZ pic.twitter.com/Db6dqopf6G
— UCF Softball (@UCF_Softball) March 9, 2025
Felton once again would successfully close out the game, pitching 3.1 innings in relief to earn her ninth win of the season.
With her save the night before, she was awarded her second Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honor of the season.
Your Big 12 leader in ERA, shutouts and wins. 0 ER allowed in her last 32 innings.
— UCF Softball (@UCF_Softball) March 11, 2025
Now the first this season to earn multiple Big 12 weekly honors.
TWO-time Big 12 Pitcher of the Week Kaitlyn Felton! pic.twitter.com/GiVREa8hKc
3rd: UCF Controlled Arizona’s Star Outfield Bats
Aubrey's second career homer against a top-four ranked foe @_aubreyevans pic.twitter.com/AbxDXH3O1t
— UCF Softball (@UCF_Softball) March 8, 2025
UCF held the Wildcats’ star outfield, who also serve as the top three in the batting order, Dakota Kennedy, Reagan Shockey, and Kaiah Altmeyer to 5/22 (.227) with just one home run and one RBI on Friday and Saturday.
In comparison, UCF’s first three batters, Sierra Humphreys, Aubrey Evans, and Stormy Kotzelnick, went 8/21 (.380) with three home runs and four RBIs in the two wins.
The entire Knights squad recorded six home runs in Tuscon, doubling their season total.
Home: UCF Resume Shaping Up
Only the beginning
— UCF Softball (@UCF_Softball) March 11, 2025
https://t.co/Rj9ACs9Jqf pic.twitter.com/D7HkPfc3Qh
The Knights check in at #19 in the RPI rankings, now with five wins against Top 40 teams in Arizona (6th), Clemson (27th), FAU ( 32nd), and Missouri (36th).
Meanwhile, the Knights enter the Top 25 in both D1Softball’s (#21) and Softball America’s (#25) polls.
UCF’s eighth-toughest in the country has paid its dividends, but it will not get easier as the Knights travel to Gainesville to take on Florida, the No. 1 team in the RPI rankings and No. 3 in D1Softball’s poll, followed by hosting Arizona State this weekend (30th in RPI).
Who’s on Deck?
Top 25 tilt in Gainesville tomorrow
— UCF Softball (@UCF_Softball) March 11, 2025
https://t.co/KAu45g0E28 pic.twitter.com/PmJgV0DaCr
Aside from their national rankings, the Gators were picked to finish second in the SEC behind Texas. They hold the most home runs (56), third-highest batting average (.387) and third-lowest ERA (1.65) in the nation.
They are led by five All-SEC Preseason team selections: catcher Jocelyn Erickson, infielder Reagan Walsh, outfielders Kendra Falby and Korbe Otis, and ace pitcher Keagan Rothrock. This is not even mentioning outfielder Taylor Shumaker, who leads the nation with 13 home runs so far this season.
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