A recap of UCF softball’s 2026 season start

Photo Courtesy of UCF AA

UCF softball knocked it out of the park to begin the 2026 season, setting program milestones and personal records after finishing the Black & Gold Classic at the UCF Softball Complex.

The Knights’ (6-1, 0-0 Big 12) first game of the 2026 season, defeating the Maryland Terriers (2-3, 0-0 Big Ten) 13-0, gave UCF its third straight season-opener with at least 10 runs scored after beating Howard University in 2024 and California State University Bakersfield in 2025.

The three grand slams in one weekend, hit by sophomore utility players Kendall Yarnell and Izzy Mertes, marked a first in the program’s history. Yarnell became the second player in program history to slug an Opening Day grand slam—the first being former UCF infielder Ashley Van Ryn against Texas Tech in 2006.

UCF’s 61 runs scored through the first six games became the most in the program’s history by the end of the weekend.

Following the classic, freshman pitcher Ava Stuewe was named Big 12 Softball Freshman of the Week by the conference on Tuesday.

The Knights rounded out the Black & Gold Classic strongly with a sweeping 12-2 victory after facing the University at Buffalo Bulls (2-3, 0-0 MAC), followed by a rematch against Maryland 9-1 on Sunday.

Sunday: Buffalo and Maryland

UCF came out swinging in the first three innings against Buffalo. Doubles from infielder Aubrey Evans and sophomore utility player Kendall Yarnell, and an RBI single from sophomore utility player Izzy Mertes, put three runs on the board in the bottom of the first.

The momentum carried into the second inning as the Knights pulled together five runs. Buffalo sophomore pitcher Genevieve Longsdorf walked two UCF batters and a double to right field from sophomore catcher Beth Damon allowed three of her teammates to sail to home plate.

UCF’s scoring streak ended at the bottom of the third inning as they secured four runs due to singles and a throwing error by junior third baseman Brianna Delaney.

The Knights held the Bulls down to only two runs in the first two innings, both allowed by freshman pitcher Tori Payne.

UCF returned to the field a couple of hours later, taking on Maryland to close the Black & Gold Classic. The Knights started the scoring with two runs in the first inning, but truly shone in the second when Mertes struck a grand slam to left field.

Junior infielder Sierra Humphreys followed up with a home run of her own shortly after and a single from redshirt sophomore Destiny Washington that allowed sophomore outfielder Kalista Birkenstock to score finished an explosive bottom of the second.

UCF only surrendered an RBI single to the Terrapins after a sacrifice fly to the infield from Maryland junior utility player Mariah Penta allowed Maryland junior outfielder Bailey Murphy to score.

UCF softball head coach Cindy Ball-Malone said the performance of her dynamic lineup is attributed to the Knights’ committed offseason work.

“We are a program that works really hard,” Ball-Malone said in the postgame conference. “So to be challenged the way we are—from our strength and conditioning coach—along with other things—it’s been awesome to see what we can do. I think last year I was told, ‘Hey, you got to have more thump in your lineup,’ and that was our goal: to get more speed and thump.”

Wednesday: Missouri

It was a slow start as both teams kept the competition close for most of the matchup.

The Missouri Tigers (2-4, 0-0 SEC) put the first run on the board at the top of the second after freshman pitcher Hildie Dempsey walked Missouri freshman third baseman Addy Waits, allowing Missouri sophomore infielder/outfielder Madison Uptegrove to score.

UCF found its offensive stride at the bottom of the fifth inning after back-to-back homers to deep left field from Humphreys and Damon gave the Knights three runs.

Sophomore outfielder Zoe Calvez continued the scoring after scoring on a wild pitch, followed by Washington’s run to home plate from an RBI single off a sacrifice fly to center field.

Missouri struggled recover offensively for the remainder of the matchup. Redshirt sophomore pitcher Isabella Vega struck out two Missouri batters and sophomore infielder Coco Jaimes caught a pop-up to third base, ending the game with another victory. 5-1.

The Knights head on the road to compete in the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational, taking place all weekend long.