News Summary
The UCF Knights softball team concluded their remarkable season with a 9-0 loss to the Texas Longhorns in the NCAA Austin Regional Final. Texas dominated, scoring effectively while UCF struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities despite notable performances from players like Coco Jaimes. Head coach Cindy Ball-Malone expressed optimism for the future as the team looks to build on this year’s achievements, which included an impressive performance from freshman Jaimes. UCF ended the season with a record of 35-24-1, setting the stage for potential growth in the upcoming seasons.
Austin, Texas
The UCF Knights softball team concluded their historic 2025 season with a 9-0 loss to the No. 3 Texas Longhorns in the NCAA Austin Regional Final. The game was held Sunday afternoon at Red & Charline McCombs Field, marking the end of a season that showcased both outstanding performances and significant achievements for the Knights.
Throughout the match, Texas demonstrated their dominance by scoring two runs in both the second and fifth innings, culminating in a five-run explosion in the seventh inning. UCF struggled to break through Texas’s defense, failing to score and managing only six hits throughout the game. Notable performances came from players including Aubrey Evans, Sierra Humphreys, Ashleigh Griffin, Beth Damon, Coco Jaimes, and Madison Simon.
Freshman infielder Coco Jaimes had a standout performance during the tournament, hitting a leadoff single in the third inning, extending her hitting streak to four consecutive games in the regional. Over the weekend, Jaimes achieved an impressive .667 batting average with eight hits in 12 at-bats, which included three hits against No. 25 Michigan and her first collegiate home run against Eastern Illinois. In the last 14 games of the season, Jaimes led UCF with a .471 batting average, scoring seven runs and recording eight RBIs.
Despite the loss, UCF’s head coach Cindy Ball-Malone expressed both sadness over the departure of outgoing seniors and optimism for the team’s future, highlighting the promising young talent within the program. This season saw the graduation of 11 seniors following the previous year, and the coach emphasized that this group has left the program in a stronger position moving forward.
Texas managed to secure their victory with a standout performance from sophomore pitcher Teagan Kavan, who pitched a complete game shutout, allowing no runs and shutting down UCF’s scoring opportunities. UCF’s best chance to score came in the fourth inning but ultimately fell short. Kavan’s record improved to 23-4 with this performance, and notably, she has not allowed a run in 16.1 innings pitched against UCF throughout her career.
As the season wraps up, UCF’s final record stands at 35-24-1, marking a significant year for the team. Texas will advance to the NCAA Super Regionals, securing their sixth consecutive appearance in this round of the tournament. The Super Regional round of the NCAA tournament is scheduled to take place from May 22 to May 25, 2025.
This season for the UCF Knights has been filled with historical moments, growth, and potential, leaving fans hopeful for the future as the groundwork lays for the next chapter of UCF softball.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Texas Longhorns Triumph Over Eastern Illinois in NCAA Softball
Michigan Wolverines Softball Team Prepares for NCAA Tournament
UCF Softball Team Secures NCAA Tournament Spot
Additional Resources
- Austin American-Statesman
- Wikipedia: NCAA Softball
- USA Today
- Google Search: Texas Longhorns Softball
- NCAA.com
- Google Scholar: UCF Knights Softball
- The Oklahoman
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Softball History
- Texas Longhorns Official Site
- Google News: NCAA Softball Tournament
Author: STAFF HERE AUSTIN WRITER
The AUSTIN STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREAustinTX.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Austin, Travis County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as SXSW, Austin City Limits Music Festival, Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, and the Austin Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and Visit Austin, plus leading businesses in technology, automotive, and retail that power the local economy such as Dell Technologies, Tesla, and Apple. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERECollegeStation.com, HEREDallas.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
