UCF softball cruises past Stetson into NCAA regional final

UCF coach Cindy Ball-Malone has always preached that when her team plays "UCF style" of softball, good things are bound to happen.

The Knights haven't been playing their best softball, losing four of their last five regular-season games, but things sure have changed in the postseason.

Aubrey Evans' grand slam set the tone as UCF cruised to a 10-1 mercy-rule win Saturday in five innings over Stetson (37-21) in the Tallahassee Regional of the NCAA Tournament at JoAnne Graf Field.

The Knights (40-16-1) advance to the regional finals against Florida State at noon on Sunday. The Seminoles eliminated Jacksonville State and Stetson to advance to the finals.

"I'm really proud of this group,” Ball-Malone said. “We're focused on moving on to our next pitch, but taking a second to celebrate what they've done is so awesome.

“The team responded to a real tight game yesterday and I love how they came out free-swinging and passing the bat."

UCF took advantage of a shaky start by Stetson starter Ava Braswell, who walked back-to-back batters and gave up a single to center fielder Samantha Rey to load the bases with two outs in the top of the second inning.

That set up Evans, who hammered a 2-1 pitch over the left-field wall for a grand slam, giving the Knights an early 4-0 lead.

It was Evans' 11th homer of the season and raised her RBI total to 40.

"I've been looking for my pitch," said Evans. "Earlier this week, I was visualizing some things that could go on this weekend and that happened to be one of them. Not really a grand slam, but getting a hit out of the park and elevating it up in the zone and it came to life."

Stetson responded in the bottom of the second as right fielder Gia Napoli's RBI double drove in second baseman Madelyn Synoracki to trim the lead to 4-1.

The Knights continued their offensive assault, loading the bases again in the bottom of the third. First baseman Ashley Griffin slapped an RBI single into center field, scoring catcher Beth Damon, extending the lead to 5-1 and ending Braswell's day.

Reliever Hayley Arnold got third baseman Coco Jaimes to pop out and right fielder Zoe Calvez to line out before hitting Rey to drive in another run. Evans would line out to end the inning.

Kendall Yarnell slugged a solo home run - her 15th of the season - in the top of the fourth inning to push the lead to 7-1.

Yarnell added another RBI at the top of the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly to push the advantage to 8-1. But Damon's two-run double cleared the bases and pushed the lead to 10-1.

Freshman Ava Stuewe (7-4) gave up a run on three hits to earn the victory.

"I was looking to my defense and connecting with them and they kept me in the game," said Stuewe.

Isabella Vega pitched a scoreless fifth inning in relief.

Since being held scoreless through the first six innings against Jacksonville State in the Friday opener, UCF is batting .516 with 16 hits and 12 RBI.

This was the second meeting of the season between the two programs, with UCF earning a 5-3 win on April 15.

Stetson will face the winner between No. 9 Florida State and Jacksonville State Saturday evening at 5 p.m.

Late Friday

UCF 2, JACKSONVILLE STATE 1, (8 INNINGS)

Third baseman Coco Jaimes had three hits, including the game-winning single in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift UCF past Jacksonville State 2-1 and advance to the winners' bracket of the Tallahassee Regional on Friday.

JSU pitcher McKenna Moore took a 4-hit shutout into the bottom of the seventh inning before a double by UCF designated hitter Kendall Yarnell and a single by catcher Beth Damon drove in pinch runner Kalista Birkenstock to tie the game at 1-1.

Isabella Vega (18-8) earned the win after pitching two innings of relief.

Moore (16-2), the Conference USA Pitcher of the Year, took the loss despite giving up just two runs on eight hits while throwing a 130-pitch complete game.

Results, schedule

Friday

Game 1 – Stetson 8, Florida State 3

Game 2 – UCF 2, Jacksonville State 1 (8)

Saturday

Game 3 – UCF 10, Stetson 1 (5)

Game 4 – Florida State 11, Jacksonville State 0 (5)

Game 5 – Florida State 11, Stetson 3

Sunday

Game 6 – Noon: UCF vs. Florida State (UCF wins regional with a victory)

Game 7 – 2:30 p.m.: UCF vs. Florida State (if necessary)

Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel's Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.

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This story was originally published May 16, 2026 at 3:10 PM.