The top seeds in the Tallahassee Regional battled in the finals after all. And it’ll be the second-seeded UCF Knights heading to NCAA softball tournament’s Super Regionals for the second time.
They upset host Florida State 4-2 in the winner-take-all finale on May 17.
The squads took different paths to get there. The Seminoles lost their opener to Stetson before righting the ship with victories over Jacksonville State and the Hatters. The Knights sped through the winner’s bracket, beating the Gamecocks and Stetson without suffering a defeat.
In the first game of Sunday’s finals, FSU edged UCF 2-1 in a pitchers’ duel, forcing a second contest in the double-elimination format.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal provided live updates throughout the afternoon. Scroll down for a play-by-play recap.
Stream UCF vs. FSU live on ESPN+
Final score: UCF wins 4-2, advances to super regionals for 2nd time
UCF has pulled off the upset, and advanced to super regionals for the second time in school history.
Hayley Griggs flew out in foul ground near the right field line, and the Knights defeated Florida State 4-2 to win the Tallahassee Regional. UCF (41-17-1) had been 0-7 all-time against the Seminoles in NCAA Tournament play.
Kalista Birkenstock, who entered in the seventh as a defensive substitution, made a diving grab in left field to deny Ashtyn Danley a potential run-scoring hit. Freshman Tori Payne picked up the win, pitching six innings.
UCF will face top of FSU order in 7th
UCF will have to go through Isa Torres and the top of Florida State’s order to survive the Tallahassee Regional. The Knights lead the host Seminoles 4-2 entering the top of the seventh inning.
Tori Payne pitches perfect 6th; UCF 3 outs away from supers
Freshman Tori Payne delivered another clean inning for UCF, which is three outs away from its second trip to super regionals in school history.
Payne has thrown 77 pitches over five innings, allowing three hits and four walks with one strikeout.
Jazzy Francik keeps UCF off scoreboard in 5th inning
Jazzy Francik needed six pitches to retire Beth Damon and Izzy Mertes via flyouts. UCF needs six outs to advance to super regionals for the second time, leading Florida State 4-2.
UCF puts 2 aboard; Jazzy Francik will pitch for FSU
Jazzy Francik has checked into the second game for Florida State as UCF threatens to pad its lead.
The Knights have runners on first and second with one out.
Francik pitched into the seventh inning of the opening game, allowing just two hits and one earned run with four strikeouts.
Tori Payne pitches perfect 5th inning for UCF
Tori Payne tossed a perfect fifth inning for UCF, and the Knights will take a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning.
Isabella Vega warmed up in the bullpen and is available to potentially close out the game if needed.
FSU pitcher Ashtyn Danley re-enters
Ashtyn Danley re-enters the circle for Florida State with one out and one UCF runner aboard in the fourth inning.
Izzy Mertes drills 2-run homer, puts UCF back in front
Izzy Mertes lined a two-run home run out to left center, putting UCF back in front of Florida State 4-2 with nobody out in the fourth inning.
Mertes has 12 homers on the season, and UCF has a program-record 71 as a team.
FSU switches pitchers in bottom of 4th
Florida State makes its first pitching switch of the winner-take-all showdown, inserting Bella Dimitrijevic to face the heart of the UCF order.
Beth Damon leads off for the Knights; her 16th home run gave the team a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
UCF escapes bases-loaded jam
Ashtyn Danley flew out to left field, leaving the bases loaded for Florida State in the top half of the fourth inning. FSU tied the score 2-2, but Tori Payne came up clutch in a high-leverage spot.
Tori Payne re-enters game to face Jaysoni Beachum
Florida State survived a pickle situation that could have ended its threat to take the lead, and UCF will make another pitching change as Tori Payne re-enters with a 1-0 count against Jaysoni Beachum.
Isa Torres ties game with line-drive single
Isa Torres turned on an offspeed pitch for a game-tying RBI single into right field. Florida State has pulled level with UCF 2-2, and still has two runners in scoring position for Jaysoni Beachum.
UCF makes pitching change with 2 FSU runners on
Florida State got back to the top of the order with two outs in the fourth, and true freshman left-hander Reagan Vokoun will face Isa Torres in a big spot.
Torres is hitting .530 on the season. The Seminoles have runners on first and second.
UCF wins another challenge on defense
UCF is 2 for 2 on challenges today.
Shelby McKenzie was called safe sliding into second base on a fielder’s choice, but replay showed she was out by a step or so.
UCF down in order, but ahead of FSU 2-1 after 3
UCF could not take advantage of the overturned challenge and extend its lead. The Knights are up 2-1 on Florida State after three innings.
Ashtyn Danley retired three of the Knights’ top hitters — Samantha Rey, Aubrey Evans and Kendall Yarnell — to keep it a one-run game.
UCF wins challenge; FSU lead overturned via review
UCF’s challenge is successful. Anna Hinde left second base before Lena Elkins released her pitch, wiping all three FSU runs off the board.
The Knights lead 2-1 heading to the bottom half of the third.
FSU clears the bases on Shelby McKenzie single
Florida State cashed in with the bases loaded to take a 4-2 lead in the third inning.
Shelby McKenzie singled into center, deflected off the glove of UCF reliever Lena Elkins, and all three runners came around to score as the throw sailed over Knights catcher Beth Damon.
UCF is challenging that one of FSU’s runners left base early.
FSU cuts UCF’s lead in half with Anna Hinde single
Anna Hinde singled up the middle, and Jaysoni Beachum raced home from second to put Florida State on the board. The Seminoles trail UCF 2-1 with two on and two out in the second, and Cindy Ball-Malone will make a pitching change.
Lena Elkins replaces Tori Payne for her 20th pitching appearance. She will face Hayley Griggs.
Nothing doing for UCF in 2nd inning
UCF went down in order against Ashtyn Danley in the second inning, but still lead Florida State 2-0 in the decisive game of the Tallahassee Regional.
UCF maintains 2-0 lead, comes to hit in 2nd inning
Tori Payne picked up her first strikeout of the day and tossed another scoreless frame. UCF maintains a 2-0 lead heading to the bottom half of the second inning.
Beth Damon clubs 2-run home run, gives UCF early lead
Beth Damon clubbed a dropball over the wall in right center, giving UCF an early 2-0 lead in its winner-take-all game against Florida State. Kendall Yarnell had the Knights’ first hit, a single through the left side of the infield.
Damon, a sophomore catcher from Oklahoma, has 16 home runs and 54 RBIs on the season.
Tori Payne holds Florida State scoreless in 1st inning
Freshman Tori Payne allowed a walk and a double, but held Florida State scoreless in the top half of the first inning.
Anna Hinde grounded into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.
Ashtyn Danley, who picked up the save in Game 1, will start the second game for the Seminoles.
Florida State defeats UCF, forces winner-take-all Game 2
Ashtyn Danley allowed an infield single to Coco Jaimes but got the last two outs to force a winner-take-all game in approximately 35 minutes. Florida State held on for a 2-1 victory over UCF.
Jazzy Francik outdueled UCF’s Isabella Vega, who allowed just three hits in six innings. However, two of them left the yard — solo shots by Florida State freshmen Hayley Griggs and Anna Hinds.
UCF drops to 6-26 all-time against Florida State and 0-7 in head-to-head meetings in the NCAA Tournament.
The Tallahassee Regional winner will meet either UCLA or South Carolina in supers next weekend.
Florida State makes pitching change after first out
Jazzy Francik recorded her fourth strikeout of the day, getting Ashleigh Griffin swinging with 69 mph heat. Seminoles coach Lonni Alameda will make a pitching change as Florida State looks to force a winner-take-all second game, leading UCF 2-1.
Ashtyn Danley takes over in the circle for FSU. She is 13-1 with a 2.05 ERA this season.
UCF, Florida State head to 7th inning in Game 1
UCF will need to scratch out at least one run in the seventh inning to keep its hopes of eliminating Florida State alive.
Isabella Vega breezed through the sixth inning, but the Knights trail 2-1. Ashleigh Griffin, Coco Jaimes and Zoe Calvez are due up for UCF against Jazzy Francik.
If Florida State wins, the two teams will have a rematch shortly after completion with a spot in supers at stake.
Jazzy Francik retires UCF in order in 6th inning
Jazzy Francik retired the heart of UCF’s order in the sixth inning, forcing Beth Damon to fly out to center field and both Izzy Mertes and Sierra Humphreys to bounce out to second base. The Knights will look to stay within a run in the sixth, trailing Florida State 2-1.
The Seminoles are 46-0 when leading after six innings this season.
UCF heads to 6th inning down 2-1 in Tallahassee
Isabella Vega worked around a two-out walk to toss another scoreless inning for UCF. However, solo homers from freshmen Hayley Griggs and Anna Hinde have the Seminoles ahead 2-1 entering the sixth.
UCF held scoreless in 5th inning, still trails FSU 2-1
UCF is down to its final six outs in its attempt to close out the Tallahassee Regional, trailing host Florida State 2-1.
Samantha Rey worked her way aboard for the second time after being plunked on the elbow, but FSU’s Jazzy Francik rebounded by getting Aubrey Evans to line out to center field and Kendall Yarnell to fly out to right.
Florida State takes lead over UCF on solo homer
Anna Hinde lifted a solo home run to lead off the fourth, giving Florida State its first lead of the day. The Seminoles are on top of UCF 2-1.
Two of FSU’s three hits have left the yard. Vega has allowed 22 home runs in 39 appearances this season.
UCF leaves 2 runners aboard in 4th inning
UCF could not regain the lead in the fourth inning, leaving two aboard as Ashleigh Griffin struck out swinging and Coco Jaimes tapped into a forceout at third.
Florida State comes to bat against Isabella Vega in the bottom half with the score tied 1-1.
UCF avoids further trouble, tied 1-1 with FSU after 3
Isabella Vega struck out Ashtyn Danley, who homered three times Saturday versus Stetson, to strand a pair of runners and keep the score tied 1-1 through three innings.
FSU got on the board via Hayley Griggs’ leadoff solo home run. UCF took an early lead on Aubrey Evans’ RBI double.
Florida State ties game on Hayley Griggs home run
Florida State freshman Hayley Griggs launched her seventh home run of the season over the left field wall, tying its game with UCF at 1 in the third inning.
That was the first hit of the day allowed by Knights pitcher Isabella Vega.
UCF strikes first with 2-out double
Aubrey Evans doubled to the gap in left center, and Samantha Rey scored from first base to give UCF a 1-0 lead with two outs in the third inning.
Evans advanced to third on the throw home from the outfield. Jazzy Francik had retired the first eight players UCF sent to the dish.
FSU remains hitless against UCF’s Isa Vega
Isabella Vega induced three infield popups and kept the Seminoles off the basepaths again in the second inning. UCF and Florida State head to the third tied 0-0; both pitchers have retired all six hitters faced.
UCF goes down in order again in 2nd
Jazzy Francik picked up a pair of strikeouts in a 1-2-3 second inning against UCF’s lineup. The Seminoles and Knights are tied 0-0 in Tallahassee.
Isabella Vega strikes out 1 in perfect inning
Isabella Vega answered with a perfect first inning of her own, striking out Ashtyn Danley on a check-swing riseball to keep the game scoreless.
Izzy Mertes will lead off the second for UCF.
UCF retired in order in 1st at-bat vs. FSU
UCF’s hitters put three balls in play against Florida State pitcher Jazzy Francik, but were retired in order to open the game.
Aubrey Evans lined out to center, Kendall Yarnell popped out to short and Beth Damon grounded out to first. Isabella Vega will get her first crack at FSU’s lineup.
Florida State announces starters for Game 1
Florida State needs to win twice today to capture its home regional. Here is the Seminoles’ starting lineup with Jazzy Francik due to pitch.
Isabella Vega set to start for UCF against Florida State
UCF will send its ace into the circle looking to close out the Tallahassee Regional. All-Big 12 right-hander Isabella Vega draws the start after pitching three innings of relief in the Knights’ previous two games.
Here’s how the rest of the Knights line up:
UCF vs FSU time today
What channel is UCF vs FSU game on today?
The Knights’ matchup with the Seminoles will air live on ESPN+.
UCF softball scouting report
Florida State softball scouting report
UCF vs Florida State softball history
Tallahassee Regional bracket, schedule
Double elimination from Friday-Sunday (May 15-17) at JoAnne Graf Field at Seminole Softball Complex:
Friday’s games
Saturday’s games
Sunday’s games
* If necessary
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: UCF vs FSU final score, highlights from NCAA softball tournament game
Reporting by Chris Boyle, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
