ORLANDO — On the heels of the highest-ranked series win in program history over the No. 4 Arizona Wildcats (22-4 overall, 1-2 Big 12) at Hillenbrand Stadium in Tucson over the weekend, the UCF softball team (19-8-1, 2-1) has been recognized for its efforts.
The squad, after receiving votes in the poll two weeks ago, has jumped into Softball America’s week six top 25 poll at No. 25 in the nation.
The latest rankings represent the first time the Knights are a ranked squad since week two of the 2023 season, when the Black and Gold were slotted as high as No. 23 in the USA Today/NFCA coaches’ poll coming off the first NCAA Super Regional berth in program history in 2022.
Among the Knights’ 2025 opponents also included in Softball America’s week six poll are No. 2 Oklahoma, No. 3 Florida, No. 6 Texas A&M, No. 7 Arizona, No. 11 Florida State, No. 14 Oklahoma State, No. 17 Georgia, No. 23 Auburn and No. 24 Liberty.
Despite a 10-1, 5-innings loss in Sunday’s matinee, the Knights still bring home the highest-ranked series win in program history, having toppled the fourth-ranked Wildcats, 9-3 and 5-4, in the first two games of the weekend.
UCF’s offensive production was spearheaded by sophomore third baseman Sierra Humphreys in the top of the third, as the Corona, California, native lined her second home run of the season over the right field fence to break up the Wildcats’ shutout bid.
The long ball marked the Knights’ sixth of the series, with Beth Damon, Ashleigh Griffin and Stormy Kotzelnick going deep in Friday’s opener and two more by Griffin and Aubrey Evans in Saturday’s one-run win.
The pitching was outstanding for UCF for the most part, with redshirt freshman Isabella Vega (W, 3-1) and true freshman Yessenia Lopez starting the first two games and senior Kaitlyn Felton (9-0, 1 save) picking up a save and a win in relief in both contests.
Up Next:
No. 25 UCF will conclude its road swing tonight (Wednesday) in Gainesville against the No. 3 Florida Gators at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium at 6 p.m. The Knights will return home to kick off its home Big 12 Conference slate against the Arizona State Sun Devils on Friday (6 p.m.), Saturday (2 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m.) at the UCF Softball Complex. All games will be streamed on ESPN+.
