UCF softball rallies to upend Jacksonville State, advances in Tallahassee Regional

Time and time again, UCF hitters failed to find a way to get to Jacksonville State pitcher McKenna Moore.

The Conference USA Pitcher of the Year dominated the Knights’ softball team through 6⅔ innings, but a double by designated hitter Kendall Yarnell and a single by catcher Beth Damon drove in pinch runner Kalista Birkenstock to tie the game 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh.

It gave new life to UCF, which had just four hits and left nine runners stranded entering the seventh.

Then, in the bottom of the eighth, second baseman Sierra Humphreys scored the winning run on a single by third baseman Coco Jaimes to give the Knights a 2-1 win over the Gamecocks to advance to the winner’s bracket in the Tallahassee Regional on Friday.

“What an incredible game. Such a fun game to be a part of,” said UCF coach Cindy Ball-Malone. “It all came down to dominant pitching, routine defense and clutch hitting. I’m extremely proud of our team and our women for staying the course and solving the puzzle there at the end.”

“Before the at-bat, Coach Bear (Ball-Malone) told me to be ready because I was going to be in the same position I was in the previous inning,” said Jaimes. “So just being prepared to do my assignment, to do my job and whatever the team needed of me.”

UCF (39-16-1) will face Stetson, a surprise 8-3 winner over No. 9 Florida State earlier in the day, at noon on Saturday.

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

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

Freshman left-hander Reagan Vokoun started the game for UCF, but struggled by walking the first two Jacksonville State batters on eight pitches in the top of the first inning. She was quickly replaced by another freshman, right-hander Tori Payne, who got three outs to end the threat.

Jacksonville State got on the scoreboard first when catcher Makalyn Kyser blasted a solo home run on a 3-2 pitch in the top of the second inning to give the Gamecocks an early 1-0 lead. It was the team-best 11th homer of the season for Kyser.

UCF senior right-hander Lena Elkins entered the game in the fourth inning after Payne allowed two Jacksonville State runners on base with one out. Elkins got the Knights out of the jam with two outs.

The Knights struggled to take advantage of several scoring opportunities during the game, including at the top of the sixth inning when Humphreys singled to left, but shortstop Aria Davis’ throw sailed past the first baseman, allowing Humphreys to advance to second base on an error.