Isabella Vega helps UCF snap 4-game slide by blanking No. 3 UF

Cindy Ball-Malone knew her UCF softball team needed a reboot.

With Knights mired in a four-game losing streak and set to host No. 3 Florida on Wednesday night at the UCF Softball Complex, Ball-Malone considered putting her young squad through rigorous practice. Instead, another opportunity presented itself, allowing her team to be reset.

“We were talking, and one of our coaches said that maybe we need a pizza party or something, but I was like, ‘Something will come together,’ ” Ball-Malone said.

That something was a visit to a lake house courtesy of former UCF softball Hall of Famer Stephanie Best.

“We had people fishing. We had people swimming in the pool. We had people just reading a book under a tree,”  Ball-Malone said. “Everyone got just to cleanse their soul and feed their soul.”

That break paid off in a big way on Wednesday as UCF pitcher Isabella Vega pitched a complete game shutout, her fourth of the season, as the Knights snapped a four-game losing streak by downing No. 3 Florida 4-0.

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UCF players celebrate after a home run during the University of Florida at UCF softball game in Orlando on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

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Vega (6-2) walked one batter and struck out four while surrendering just five hits.

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“I had a positive attitude and was then feeding off the team as well,” Vega said. “They had a very positive energy today. I felt it in the locker room and throughout warm-ups that today was going to be good.”

UCF got on the scoreboard when shortstop Aubrey Evans drove a 1-0 pitch from UF pitcher Katelynn Oxley (5-3) over the left-field wall for a 2-run homer, driving in third baseman Sierra Humphreys. It was the fourth homer of the season for Evans.

“I was looking for one pitch in one spot and in that count, and when you see the pitch, you’re going after it,” Evans said. “I put a good swing on it, and thankfully it left the yard.”

Vega opened the second inning by hitting catcher Jocelyn Erickson, but a 5-4-3 double play cleared the bases and ended the Gators’ threat.

Florida threatened again in the third after Vega walked shortstop Rylee Holtorf and gave up a single to Kendra Falby with two outs. But Korbe Otis popped up to catcher Beth Damon to end the threat.

The Gators managed to get runners on the base in the fifth when second baseman Mia Williams stroked a single down the left-field line to open the inning. Vega got the next two batters to pop up, but Holtorf beat out a bunt single to put two on with two outs.

However, Falby lined out to Evans, who threw to Humphreys for a double play.

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UCF took advantage of a pitching change at the bottom of the inning when UF went with reliever Ava Brown. The sophomore got the first two outs before Damon lined a double into the left-center. Three pitches later, right fielder Izzy Mertes launched a blast over the left-field fence for a two-run homer.

UF catcher Jocelyn Erickson lined a shot off the center-field wall for a two-out double in the top of the sixth, but Vega got first baseman Reagan Walsh to ground out to end the threat.

The Gators had one more chance as pitch hitter Cassidy McClellan got on base with one out in the seventh, but Vega got the final two outs to secure the win.

UCF (21-14-1, 3-6 Big 12) snapped a four-game losing streak to Florida. It was the first win by the Knights over the Gators since April 14, 2021, and the third overall by the program under Ball-Malone.

It’s the fourth home win for UCF in the series and the first since an 8-6 victory on March 14, 2021.

The Knights improved to 3-4 against top-10 teams this season.

Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com

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