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]
Coachesedit
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.
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
^"American Announces Agreements With UCF, Cincinnati and Houston on Departure" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. June 10, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
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May 07, 2024
knights, softball, program, represents, university, central, florida, sport, softball, knights, compete, division, national, collegiate, athletics, association, ncaa, conference, knights, play, their, home, games, softball, complex, main, campus, orange, count. 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 year history of the program the Knights have won three American regular season championships four conference tournament championships and have nine appearances in the NCAA Tournament UCF Knights SoftballFounded2002UniversityUniversity of Central FloridaHead coachCindy Ball Malone 4th season ConferenceBig 12LocationOrlando FLHome stadiumUCF Softball Complex Capacity 600 1 NicknameUCF KnightsColorsBlack and gold 2 NCAA Super Regional appearances2022NCAA Tournament appearances2005 2008 2010 2012 2014 2015 2016 2021 2022 2023Conference Tournament championships2005 2008 2015 2022 2023Regular Season Conference championships2014 2015 2022 Contents 1 History 2 Coaches 3 Seasons 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editThe 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 editTenure 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 editStatistics 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 championSee also editUCF Knights baseball List of University of Central Florida alumni List of University of Central Florida faculty and administrators List of NCAA Division I softball programsReferences edit UCF Softball Complex Colors University of Central Florida Brand Guide Retrieved August 4 2018 McMurphy Brett Old Big East now American Athletic ESPN Retrieved 4 April 2013 2011 UCF Knights Softball Quick Facts Archived 2011 08 10 at the Wayback Machine 2010 UCF Knights Softball Media Guide a b c d e f g h UCF Knights Softball History and Records Archived 2011 08 10 at the Wayback Machine UCF Conference Affiliation History American Announces Agreements With UCF Cincinnati and Houston on Departure Press release American Athletic Conference June 10 2022 Retrieved June 10 2022 UCF Softball ComplexExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to University of Central Florida Official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title UCF Knights softball amp oldid 1169913008, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
