UCF Knights softball

UCF Knights Softball
Founded2002
UniversityUniversity of Central Florida
Head coachCindy Ball-Malone (4th season)
ConferenceBig 12
LocationOrlando, FL
Home stadiumUCF Softball Complex (Capacity: 600[1])
NicknameUCF Knights
ColorsBlack and gold[2]
   
NCAA Super Regional appearances
2022
NCAA Tournament appearances
2005, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Conference Tournament championships
2005, 2008, 2015, 2022, 2023
Regular Season Conference championships
2014, 2015, 2022

The UCF Knights softball program represents the University of Central Florida in the sport of softball. The Knights compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and the Big 12 Conference. The Knights play their home games at the UCF Softball Complex on UCF's main campus in Orange County, Florida near Orlando.[3] The Knights are coached by head coach Cindy Ball-Malone.[4] In the twenty two year history of the program, the Knights have won three American regular season championships, five conference tournament championships, and have eleven appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

History

The UCF softball program was founded in 2002 under Renee Luers-Gillispie.[5] The Knights played their first games on February 2, losing the first contest 2–3 to Bethune–Cookman, and winning their second game against Arkansas, 6–5.[6] The program played its first four seasons in the Atlantic Sun Conference (now known as the ASUN Conference). In their last year in the conference, the Knights won their first conference tournament championship, defeating Troy twice in one day, and made their first NCAA tournament appearance.[6] In 2005, UCF moved to Conference USA, where they remained until joining the American Athletic Conference in 2013.[7] UCF joined the Big 12 Conference after the 2023 season.[8]

The UCF Softball Complex opened on March 14, 2006, with the Knights winning two games that day, a 10–9 victory over Marshall and a 7–3 win over Furman.[6][9] In 2008, Gillespie would lead the Knights to their second conference tournament championship, their first in C-USA, and their second appearance in the NCAA tournament, by defeating #9 Houston. During the tournament, UCF defeated #1 Florida 1–0. In both 2010 and 2012, Gillespie led the Knights to the NCAA tournament.[6]

In the past decade, the Knights own nine no-hitters, including two perfect games.[6] The first two no-hitters in program history were perfect games, and four no-hitters were pitched by Allison Kime.[6] Stephanie Best holds the club record for batting average with .384, home runs with 71 and triples with 13.[6] After their careers at UCF, three Knights have played in the National Pro Fastpitch League (NPF); Stephanie Best, Allison Kime and Breanne Javier.[6]

Coaches

Tenure Coach Years Record Pct.
2002–2018 Renee Luers-Gillispie 17 522–334–1 .610
2019–present Cindy Ball-Malone 3 96-45-2 .678
Totals 2 coaches 20 seasons 618–379–2 .620
Records are through the conclusion of the 2015 NCAA Regular Season.

Seasons

Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
UCF Knights (Atlantic Sun) (2002–2005)
2002 Renee Luers-Gillispie 46–19 12–6 3rd
2003 Renee Luers-Gillispie 37–31 13–7 4th
2004 Renee Luers-Gillispie 42–21 16–4 2nd
2005 Renee Luers-Gillispie 47–29–1 13–7 4th NCAA Regionals
UCF Knights (Conference USA) (2006–2013)
2006 Renee Luers-Gillispie 19–37 4–20 9th
2007 Renee Luers-Gillispie 38–26 11–13 4th
2008 Renee Luers-Gillispie 49–20 16–7 2nd NCAA Regionals
2009 Renee Luers-Gillispie 27–27 11–12 5th
2010 Renee Luers-Gillispie 36–23 16–7 3rd NCAA Regionals
2011 Renee Luers-Gillispie 22–32 11–13 6th
2012 Renee Luers-Gillispie 39–19 15–9 3rd NCAA Regionals
2013 Renee Luers-Gillispie 29–25 10–14 3rd
UCF Knights (American Athletic Conference) (2014–2023)
2014 Renee Luers-Gillispie 43–18 15–3 1st NCAA Regionals
2015 Renee Luers-Gillispie 48–7 15–2 1st NCAA Tournament
2016 Renee Luers-Gillispie 38–22 12–4 2nd NCAA Regionals
2017 Renee Luers-Gillispie 29–23 11–7 3rd
2018 Renee Luers-Gillispie 34–22 12–9 3rd
2019 Cindy Ball-Malone 34–21 11–10 5th
2020 Cindy Ball-Malone 21–5–1 0–0 1st
2021 Cindy Ball-Malone 41–19–1 16–7–1 3rd NCAA Regionals
2022 Cindy Ball-Malone 49–14 16–2 1st NCAA Super Regional
2023 Cindy Ball-Malone 40–21 15–3 2nd NCAA Regionals
UCF Knights (Big 12 Conference) (2024–present)
2024 Cindy Ball-Malone
Total: 707–414–3

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

See also

References

  1. ^ UCF Softball Complex
  2. ^ "Colors | University of Central Florida Brand Guide". Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  3. ^ McMurphy, Brett. "Old Big East now American Athletic". ESPN. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  4. ^ 2011 UCF Knights Softball Quick Facts Archived 2011-08-10 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ 2010 UCF Knights Softball Media Guide
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h UCF Knights Softball History and Records Archived 2011-08-10 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ UCF Conference Affiliation History
  8. ^ "American Announces Agreements With UCF, Cincinnati and Houston on Departure" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. June 10, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  9. ^ UCF Softball Complex
Wikimedia Commons has media related to University of Central Florida.