UCF Knights softball

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.

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

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

TenureCoachYearsRecordPct.
2002–2018Renee Luers-Gillispie17522–334–1.610
2019–presentCindy Ball-Malone396-45-2.678
Totals2 coaches20 seasons618–379–2.620
Records are through the conclusion of the 2015 NCAA Regular Season.

Seasons

Statistics overview
SeasonCoachOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
UCF Knights (Atlantic Sun) (2002–2005)
2002Renee Luers-Gillispie46–1912–63rd
2003Renee Luers-Gillispie37–3113–74th
2004Renee Luers-Gillispie42–2116–42nd
2005Renee Luers-Gillispie47–29–113–74thNCAA Regionals
UCF Knights (Conference USA) (2006–2013)
2006Renee Luers-Gillispie19–374–209th
2007Renee Luers-Gillispie38–2611–134th
2008Renee Luers-Gillispie49–2016–72ndNCAA Regionals
2009Renee Luers-Gillispie27–2711–125th
2010Renee Luers-Gillispie36–2316–73rdNCAA Regionals
2011Renee Luers-Gillispie22–3211–136th
2012Renee Luers-Gillispie39–1915–93rdNCAA Regionals
2013Renee Luers-Gillispie29–2510–143rd
UCF Knights (American Athletic Conference) (2014–2023)
2014Renee Luers-Gillispie43–1815–31stNCAA Regionals
2015Renee Luers-Gillispie48–715–21stNCAA Tournament
2016Renee Luers-Gillispie38–2212–42ndNCAA Regionals
2017Renee Luers-Gillispie29–2311–73rd
2018Renee Luers-Gillispie34–2212–93rd
2019Cindy Ball-Malone34–2111–105th
2020Cindy Ball-Malone21–5–10–01st
2021Cindy Ball-Malone41–19–116–7–13rdNCAA Regionals
2022Cindy Ball-Malone49–1416–21stNCAA Super Regional
2023Cindy Ball-Malone40–2115–32ndNCAA Regionals
UCF Knights (Big 12 Conference) (2024–present)
2024Cindy 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

External links