As they faced a 2-0 deficit, most of Wednesday evening had not gone in favor of the No. 4 Florida Gators. However, the UCF Knights delivered the final dagger in the bottom of the fifth inning. Coming into this contest 7-3 in its last 10 against the Knights, and undefeated since a 7-0 loss in Gainesville four years ago, this was unfamiliar territory for Florida.
UCF freshman catcher Beth Damon hit a two-run double to set up her freshman counterpart, freshman right fielder Izzy Mertes. The latter stood in the box, looking to put UF away, as the Gators still hadn’t gotten anything going in the batter's box.
Mertes took a 1-1 pitch and hit a line-drive two-run long ball into a tree in left field for her third home run of the 2025 campaign. UCF had now doubled its lead and put the game out of reach for UF.
The Knights (21-14-1) used a pair of two-run home runs to stun the Gators (30-5) 4-0 at the UCF Softball Field. This marked the first time this season that UF has lost a midweek matchup. Florida was also 9-0 against in-state opponents before Wednesday’s contest.
This was also the first time UF has been shut out in the 2025 campaign. The last time was on June 1 in the 2024 Women’s College World Series, as national finalist Texas defeated the Gators 10-0. UF fell victim to three shutouts last season, but Wednesday marked the first time the 2025 squad suffered a scoreless defeat.
UCF redshirt freshman starting pitcher Isabella Vega (6-2) dominated the Gators in the circle. The Knights lost four straight games heading into this contest, but Vega allowed just five hits and zero runs to keep the UF lineup at bay. She allowed multiple runners to reach base in only two innings. The freshman also struck out four batters and walked just one in the complete-game shutout.
UF didn’t record a hit until the top of the third inning, when senior center fielder Kendra Falby knocked an infield single for the 297th hit of her career. She is currently on pace to become the third player in Florida history to reach 300 career hits.
Vega faced trouble from the Gators in the top of the fifth, as she allowed a leadoff single down the third base line to sophomore second baseman Mia Williams and a two-out bunt to senior shortstop Rylee Holtorf. However, the UCF pitcher forced Falby to ground out to escape the jam.
Florida freshman starting pitcher Katelynn Oxley (6-2) struggled to keep the UCF lineup off the board from the . Sophomore third baseman Sierra Humphreys hit a one-out single to right field in the bottom of the first, setting up junior shortstop Aubrey Evans for a productive at-bat
Evans took a 1-0 pitch and hit a two-run blast to left center, her fourth home run of the year, to put the Knights on the board first.
After the inning, Oxley settled in and didn’t allow a run for the rest of her time in the circle. She pitched four innings, finishing with a line of three hits, one walk and two runs. Oxley only struck out a single Knight batter in the contest.
UF sophomore pitcher Ava Brown pitched the fifth inning in relief and gave up the final two runs of the contest, which ultimately put it out of reach. Senior pitcher Kara Hammock pitched a scoreless sixth and final inning for Florida.
The Gators now hold a 30-5 record, having dropped three of their last six games with this being their second road loss of the season.
Florida will look to bounce back as it plays a weekend series on the road against the Auburn Tigers. The series starts on Friday, with first pitch currently slated for 7 p.m. at Jane B. Moore Field.
Contact Jackson Colding at jcolding@alligator.org. Follow him on X @Colding_Jackson
Jackson Colding is a junior sports journalism major and the Spring 2025 softball reporter. He is in his second semester at the sports desk. In his free time, he likes playing hockey, soccer and going to the gym.
