UCF (38-16-1, 14-9-1) kicked off the Big 12 softball tournament on May 6 with a rematch against Kansas (35-18, 14-10).
And it didn’t go the way the regular-season series went.
While the Knights claimed two of three from Kansas last month, the Jayhawks returned the favor by defeating UCF 6-5 to advance to the conference semifinals.
The fourth-seeded Knights entered the event ranked 21st in the country, according to Softball America. They remain in position for a potential NCAA Tournament berth.
UCF set a single-season program record with 66 home runs during the regular season. Second baseman Sierra Humphreys and right-handed pitcher Isabella Vega earned All-Big 12 first-team selections prior to the tournament, while shortstop Aubrey Evans, catcher Beth Damon and outfielders Izzy Mertes and Samantha Rey made the second team.
Kansas will now meet either Baylor or top-seeded Texas Tech, the defending national runner-up, in Friday’s semifinal round.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal provided live updates throughout the game. Scroll down for a play-by-play recap.
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Kansas defeats UCF 6-5, advances to Big 12 softball semifinals
Chloe Barber struck out Destiny Washington looking to end the game and lift Kansas to the Big 12 softball tournament semifinals with a 6-5 victory over UCF.
Sierra Humphreys blooped a leadoff double into right field, but did not advance. UCF left nine runners on base, squandering an early 4-0 lead.
Kansas will face the winner of the tournament’s next game, eighth-seeded Baylor versus top seed Texas Tech.
UCF falls to 38-16-1 on the season, but are widely expected to earn an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament. The 64-team field will be unveiled at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 10.
UCF avoids further trouble, but trails Kansas by a run
Isabella Vega pitched UCF out of a bases-loaded jam, keeping the Knights within a run heading to the bottom of the seventh. Kansas leads 6-5, thanks to Campbell Bagshaw’s go-ahead RBI single.
Sierra Humphreys, Coco Jaimes and Ashleigh Griffin are due up for the Knights. Chloe Barber will pitch her second inning of relief for the Jayhawks.
Kansas leads for 1st time on Campbell Bagshaw single
Kansas has taken the lead for the first time, going up 6-5 on Campbell Bagshaw’s RBI single to center.
UCF sophomore Isabella Vega, who threw 82 pitches in the first four innings, is returning to the circle in a one-run game. Kansas has runners at first and second with one out.
UCF, Kansas head to 7th inning tied 5-5
Izzy Mertes struck out swinging to end the sixth inning, stranding two runners in scoring position and keeping the score tied 5-5 between UCF and Kansas in the first Big 12 softball tournament quarterfinal.
The Knights jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the opening two innings.
Lena Elkins will pitch the seventh for UCF.
Kansas ties score again with 2-out single in 6th
Kadence Stafford lined a two-out, game-tying single into center to plate Madi Hays, bringing Kansas level with UCF 5-5 in the top of the sixth inning.
UCF regains lead in bottom of 5th inning
UCF regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth, cashing in Izzy Mertes’ leadoff double with a sacrifice fly from Ashleigh Griffin. The Knights pulled ahead of Kansas 5-4.
Kansas, UCF tied 4-4 in 5th inning
Kansas scored its fourth unanswered run, courtesy of Ella Boyer’s sacrifice fly to center, to tie the score 4-4 in the top half of the fifth inning.
Lena Elkins avoided further damage, inducing a fly out from Campbell Bagshaw to end the threat.
UCF makes 2nd pitching change of 5th inning
Tori Payne missed the strike zone in eight of her nine pitches, issuing back-to-back walks to begin the fifth inning. UCF coach Cindy Ball-Malone will make a second call to the bullpen, bringing in senior Lena Elkins to get out of the jam.
UCF grounds into bases-loaded double play
UCF squandered a bases-loaded, one-out situation as Beth Damon grounded into an inning-ending, 5-3 double play. The Knights maintain a 4-3 lead over Kansas after four innings, and Cindy Ball-Malone is making a pitching change.
Freshman Tori Payne takes over for Isabella Vega, who allowed three hits and two earned runs with a pair of strikeouts.
Kansas pulls closer on Ava Wallace’s 2-run bomb
Ava Wallace nearly homered in her first at-bat, but left little doubt in her next turn at the plate. She clubbed a two-run shot over the right field wall, pulling Kansas within 4-3 in the top of the fourth inning.
Isabella Vega rebounded to retire Bailey Amezcua on a groundout and Kadence Stafford via strikeout. The sophomore is up to 82 pitches, allowing three hits and two earned runs.
Kansas scores on a short sacrifice fly
Kansas scratched out a run against UCF ace Isabella Vega as Kadence Stafford scored on Anna Soles’ short sacrifice fly in foul ground behind third base.
Presley Limbaugh singled for the second time; she has both of the Jayhawks’ hits against Vega.
UCF doubles lead on Kansas 2-out error
Hailey Cripe’s throwing error on a groundball from Kendall Yarnell plated another pair of UCF runs. The Knights lead Kansas 4-0 in the bottom of the second. Ashleigh Griffin and Samantha Rey, both of whom singled earlier in the inning, came around to score.
Isabella Vega pitched a 1-2-3 second, though Ava Wallace lifted a fly ball to the warning track in center field.
Beth Damon slams 2-run home run, gives UCF early lead
Oklahoma native Beth Damon crushed a two-run homer, giving UCF a 2-0 lead over Kansas in the opening Big 12 softball tournament quarterfinal.
Damon regained sole possession of the team lead with her 15th longball of the season. UCF now has 67 homers as a team, a single-season program record.
Kendall Yarnell tallied the Knights’ first hit of the day, a line-drive single into left field.
Isabella Vega tosses scoreless 1st inning for UCF
Isabella needed 24 pitches to toss a scoreless first frame against Kansas, working around a leadoff single from Presley Limbaugh.
Vega rebounded from a 3-0 count to strike out Anna Soles. Hailey Cripe flew out to left, and Ella Boyer grounded out to third.
Kansas softball starting lineup
Kansas counters with freshman Lila Partridge in the circle. She is 8-2 with a 3.29 ERA this spring. The Jayhawks’ lineup looks like this:
UCF softball starting lineup
Isabella Vega is today’s starting pitcher for the Knights. Here is how the batting order shapes up:
UCF vs Kansas softball game time today
What channel is UCF vs Kansas game on today?
Cat Osterman, Emma Tiedemann and Nicole Mendes will call the UCF vs. Kansas game on ESPN+.
Big 12 softball tournament bracket, schedule
Quarterfinals, May 7
Semifinals, May 8
Championship, May 9
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: UCF vs Kansas final score, highlights, recap of Big 12 softball game
Reporting by Chris Boyle, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
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