Arizona Rallies Past UCF, 4-3, to Punch Ticket to Big 12 Semifinals

In a game that had all the drama of postseason softball, Arizona weathered an early storm from UCF and delivered a late-inning comeback to survive and advance to the semifinals of the Big 12 Softball Tournament.

The No. 2 seed Wildcats edged No. 7 seed UCF, 4-3, on Thursday night in Oklahoma City, riding a mix of timely hitting and veteran poise in the circle to a much-needed victory.

Here’s what stood out from the Wildcats’ gritty comeback win at Devon Park.

Devyn Netz Settles In and Leads the Charge

If Arizona was going to mount a comeback, it had to start in the circle—and Devyn Netz made sure that she settled her team into the game after a shaky start from Miranda Stoddard.

The Big 12 Player of the Year gave up a solo shot in the third inning that stretched UCF’s lead to 3-0, but bounced back in a big way, settling in and slamming the door on the Knights offense the rest of the way. She finished with 5.2 IP, allowing three hits, one run, and one strikeout with no walks.

Netz was equally impactful at the plate, as an RBI single through the right side scored the tying and go-ahead runs in the fifth inning to give Arizona a 4-3 lead that it would hang onto the rest of the way.

Wildcats Seize The Moment Late

UCF had Arizona feeling the pressure after building a 3-0 lead after the first three innings, and with Isabella Vega dealing, it felt like we might have a legitimate upset bid in the works. But in the postseason, pressure does strange things. And when the Knights cracked, Arizona pounced.

After a leadoff double from Sydney Stewart in the fourth, UCF’s defense faltered. An error on a routine out at first brought Regan Shockey home to give Arizona within one. Then, in the fifth, Dakota Kennedy connected on a sac fly to cut the lead to one run, setting the table for Netz’ go-ahead two-RBI single.

The Wildcats didn’t do much damage offensively—only five hits on the night—but they delivered when they needed it most. That’s what experienced, battle-tested teams do in tournament settings.

UCF Heads Home to Wait for Selection Sunday

After jumping out to a 3-0 lead, it felt like UCF just might have the Wildcats’ number this season, with a2-1 record against them already. However, their hot start eventually fizzled out, and despite having one of the Big 12’s top teams on the ropes, they let an opportunity pass.

Now at 33-22-1, UCF will await its postseason fate, hoping its resume holds up enough to earn an at-large bid. The Knights have played good softball in stretches this season, but Thursday’s collapse might be the moment that determines their postseason ceiling. Still, with an RPI better than 30 and one of the toughest schedules in the country, UCF should be a shoo-in barring incredible chaos elsewhere.

Arizona, meanwhile, improves to 38-13 and will now face Iowa State in Friday’s semifinal round. With Devyn Netz in form and the Wildcats finding ways to win even without their best stuff, this team looks every bit capable of making a serious push toward the Big 12 title—and beyond.