DeLAND — “We’re in a situation where we can’t just put the ball in play,” said UCF head coach Cindy Ball-Malone.
“We need to swing big.”
Did they ever.
The UCF softball team (27-20-1) has made history in a variety of avenues throughout the 2025 campaign, from kicking off conference play with its highest-ranked series win over then-No. 4 Arizona, to its largest comeback win over a ranked opponent against then-No. 15 Missouri, to name a couple.
On Wednesday night in DeLand, the squad once again rewrote its history, accomplishing something no other Knights team had done in the program’s first 23 years of existence.
Powered by two six-run innings and a single-game program record eight home runs, the Black and Gold erased an 11-0 first-inning deficit to earn the largest overall comeback win in program history, 14-13, over the Stetson Hatters (25-25) at Patricia Wilson Field.
In addition to setting new program single-game marks for the comeback (11 runs) and homers (8), the Knights also hit five home runs in a single inning for the first time in program history, and slugged back-to-back-to-back homers in an inning for the first time as well.
“I knew they were capable of scoring runs like that, but to do it in that fashion, it’s tough to do,” said Ball-Malone. “Stetson is always feisty when we play them, they’re tough. To see us do what they did and stay together, it was big for us.”
UCF’s most prolific offensive display since its 21-9 victory over Wisconsin during the 2024 Clearwater Invitational came on the back of multi-homer games from both Izzy Mertes and Kiley Strott (3-for-3, 2 home runs, double, three runs scored, two RBI) and one home run each from Aubrey Evans, Sierra Humphreys, Samantha Rey and Ashleigh Griffin.
The squad’s 17 hits marked a new single-game season high, and the team’s highest single-game total since its 25-hit barrage against the Badgers Feb. 16, 2024.
Not to be overlooked was an outstanding relief appearance by redshirt freshman Isabella Vega in the circle.
Vega, who has already played instrumental roles in ranked wins over No. 3 Florida, No. 4 Arizona, No. 15 Missouri and No. 22 Florida Atlantic, stifled Stetson over five innings of work to allow her team time to mount its comeback.
She entered with a runner on in the bottom of the third and none out, and induced a 5-4-3 double play before fanning her first Hatters hitter of the night.
Though the Hatters managed two runs in the bottom of the fourth, the hosts would not score again as Vega stranded a one-out double in the bottom of the fifth and authored a spotless sixth frame, setting the stage for the Black and Gold to complete their historic comeback.
Strott, a Lake Brantley graduate who entered the game with just two hits in 27 at bats over two seasons, led off the top of the seventh with her second home run of the game and Evans and Stormy Kotzelnick singled in runs before Griffin launched a 1-2 pitch over the left-center field wall with two on base and two outs to give the Knights the lead.
Vega (9-4), working with a lead for the first time, quickly dispatched of the final three Stetson hitters, inducing a pop out to Humphreys at third base in foul territory before rolling a game-ending 4-6-3 double play.
Up Next:
UCF is hosting its final three home games of the regular season against Big 12 Conference foe Houston. the series opened on Friday with Game 2 today (Saturday) at 2 p.m. and the final _ which will be Senior Knight _ on Sunday at noon from the UCF Softball Complex and both games will be streamed on ESPN+.
