Gators Softball Shut Out At UCF

The Gators came into Wednesday’s softball game riding a four-game winning streak against the UCF Knights aiming to extend it to five.

Instead, Florida was met with something it’s rarely encountered this season: defeat.

For the first time this season — and for the first time since the 2024 Women’s College World Series — the Gators were shut out, falling 4-0 to the Knights on Wednesday in Orlando. This came just weeks after the Gators (30-5) had blanked the Knights 3-0.

UF Struggles

The single bright spot for the Gators was Kendra Falby‘s single in the third inning which extended her streak of reaching base in every game this season.

Otherwise, it was an ugly game in the batter’s box for Florida. UCF pitcher Isabella Vega delivered her fourth complete-game shutout of the season by holding Florida to just five hits in an efficient 95 pitches. The lone extra-base hit for the Gators came from Jocelyn Erickson.

Due to the Gators’ anemic offense, it only took two swings for the Knights (21-14-1) to secure the win. Aubrey Evans crushed a two-run homer in the first frame on a middle-middle pitch, and four innings later, Izzy Mertes followed suit, launching a shot to nearly the same spot to bring in two more.

For the second time tonight, @UCF_Softball hits a two-run shot against #3 Florida, this time coming off the bat of RF Izzy Mertes (@MertesIzzy), and increases it lead to four as we’re through five. #GKCO #ChargeOn

End of 5th: #UCF: 4
#3 Florida: 0 https://t.co/wUW1lU99Sq pic.twitter.com/TPQ3oS6qy6

— Black & Gold Banneret (@UCFBanneret_SBN) March 26, 2025

In the circle, Florida cycled through three different pitchers. None could find their rhythm when it came to racking up strikeouts. Freshman Katelynn Oxley managed the team’s lone K before being pulled in the fourth for Ava Brown.

Kara Hammock took over to close for the Gators, shutting out the Knights in her brief outing — but by then, it was far too little, too late.

Takeaways

Although the Gators had already suffered four losses before Wednesday, their matchup against UCF was their flattest performance yet.

The lineup struggled to string together hits, with Florida managing to put more than one runner on base only twice throughout the entire game.

While much of the blame falls on the offense, the Gators’ performance in the circle was far from ideal. It was just the second time this season that UF’s pitchers allowed multiple home runs in a game.

It could be chalked up to rust after a six-day break — the team’s longest of the season — but this performance still raises concerns. Just weeks earlier, the Gators had barely managed to escape with a win against UCF. This loss feels like a step backward.

Up Next

The Gators dive back into SEC play with a series at Auburn.

Game 1 is on Friday at 7 p.m. It will be broadcasted on SEC Network+.