UCF Softball Survives Utah’s Late Rally with 7-5 Win in Big 12 Tournament

On Wednesday evening, the UCF Knights nearly blew a significant lead to the Utah Utes, surrendering five runs in the seventh after entering the inning up 5-0.

A game headlined by pitching, both UCF and Utah’s pitchers had notable days in the circle for vastly different reasons.

UCF’s Isabella Vega was dominant in the contest, allowing just two hits in six innings. She struck out two batters and allowed one walk, all while carrying a no-hitter through the start of the 6th. A bunt single from Utah’s Hailee White would eventually end the streak, but despite UCF moving to Kaitlyn Felton for the seventh inning, Vega’s day wouldn’t be done quite yet.

On the other side of the diamond, Utah’s pitchers really struggled to keep runners off the base paths, surrendering nine walks through the first three innings alone. The three-person combination of Hailey Maestretti, Brooklyn Carreon, and Shelbee Jones surrendered ten total walks, two of which were hit batters, while allowing a team batting average of .357 to UCF.

While the Knights turned to Felton to close the game out, up five runs, she turned in a brutal performance, allowing Utah to load the bases with one out in the seventh, with her team up 5-1.

Enter redshirt freshman Isabella Vega back into the ball game, who showed some rust after sitting out to start the seventh. Six of Vega’s first nine pitches were balls, which allowed the Utes to plate another run.

Vega eventually got a second out on a foul ball caught out of play. When facing Shonty Passi, Vega got the ground ball she wanted, but an error by UCF shortstop Chloe Evans would continue the rally for Utah, and cut the game to a two-run deficit, still with the bases loaded.

When the Utes needed it most, senior outfielder Kaylah Nelsen came through, smacking a two-run single to tie the game up at five apiece.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Knights returned to the batter’s box after finally getting the last out of the inning, hoping to walk it off. A leadoff single followed by two quick outs put UCF in a bad spot, but Ashleigh Griffin came through and delivered a two-run walkoff home run to secure the Knights a matchup with second-ranked Arizona on Thursday.

Utah’s season ends, while UCF advances to the second round, where it will take on Arizona at 5:00 p.m. central on Thursday, May 7th.