BOCA RATON — The UCF softball team (13-6-1) recorded its sixth consecutive shutout victory over No. 22 Florida Atlantic (15-3), toppling the Owls Wednesday evening by a 3-0 final score at FAU Softball Stadium to earn its seventh straight win over its in-state rivals overall.
The effort not only represented the Knights’ 13th win of the 2025 campaign, but also the second top 25-ranked win, joining the largest ranked comeback victory in program history over the then-No. 15 Missouri Tigers, 6-5 in eight innings, Feb. 11.
UCF’s latest win marked its first shutout of a ranked opponent since then-junior right-hander Grace Jewell’s six-inning no-hitter against then-No. 22 Arizona State at the 2023 OSU Mizuno Classic hosted by Oklahoma State March 17, 2023, and its first shutout of a ranked team in a true road game since the Black and Gold blanked then-No. 4 Florida in Gainesville, 7-0, April 14, 2021.
UCF also handed the Owls just their third defeat in their first 18 games this spring, downing a squad that previously earned power four wins over then-No. 25 Clemson, Ole Miss, Kansas and Minnesota.
The trio of freshman right-hander Yessenia Lopez, redshirt freshman Isabella Vega (2-1), who would get the win, and senior Kaitlyn Felton, who earned the save, combined on the shutout.
The Black and Gold took a lead in the top of the second inning when freshman catcher Beth Damon swatted the first pitch she saw over the left field wall for the first home run of her collegiate career.
UCF would add on in the top of the third, cashing in on a leadoff walk by shortstop Aubrey Evans. Third baseman Sierra Humphreys executed a sacrifice bunt to advance her teammate, and right fielder Stormy Kotzelnick rapped a single back up the middle to drive Evans home.
Freshman designated player Izzy Mertes later lined a one-out double to the right-center field gap that brought Kotzelnick all the way home from first base and pushed the Knights’ lead to 3-0.
Up Next:
The Knights are back at home to host the Charge On Classic and here is the remaining schedule:
Saturday _ Georgia Southern vs. George Mason, 9 a.m.; Georgia Southern vs. Providence, 11:30 a.m.; North Florida vs. George Mason, 2 p.m.; Providence vs. UCF, 4:30 p.m.; UCF vs. North Florida, 7 p.m.
Sunday _ George Mason vs. Providence, 9 a.m.; UCF vs. Georgia Southern, 12 p.m.
The UCF games will be streamed on ESPN+.
