The UCF softball team split its games on the first day of the 2026 Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational, defeating Northwestern 6-4 before falling to No. 17 Georgia 13-5 on Friday.
Strong Start to the Season
The Knights entered Saturday with a 7-2 record, marking their best start to a season since achieving the same result in 2021. UCF opened the invitational with a four-run first inning against Northwestern, fueled by doubles from Aubrey Evans and Izzy Mertes, followed by a three-run home run from Sierra Humphreys.
Humphreys continued her impressive form, hitting her fourth home run of the season – her third consecutive game with a long ball – and finishing the day with a season-high four RBIs. Ashleigh Griffin also contributed with a run-scoring single in the second inning.
Freshman Hildie Dempsey earned her first collegiate start, allowing just one earned run over three innings, before Isabella Vega closed out the game, recording six strikeouts.
Bulldogs Respond
Against Georgia, UCF again started strong, scoring two runs in the first inning on bases-loaded walks to Coco Jaimes and Beth Damon, and adding three more in the second on a Kendall Yarnell RBI double and a two-run home run by Aubrey Evans. This marked the fourth consecutive game with a home run for the Knights, bringing their season total to 13 through nine games – the most since 2023.
Still, Georgia answered with an eight-run fourth inning, ultimately securing a 13-5 victory.
Looking Ahead
UCF will continue play at the Clearwater Invitational on Saturday, facing No. 10 LSU at 10 a.m. And No. 8 Nebraska later in the afternoon. The game against LSU will be streamed live on the SEC Network.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was UCF’s record after the first day of the Clearwater Invitational?
UCF’s record was 7-2 after splitting games against Northwestern and No. 17 Georgia on the first day of the 2026 Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational.
Who hit a home run for UCF against Northwestern?
Sierra Humphreys hit a three-run home run for UCF against Northwestern.
How many home runs has Aubrey Evans hit this season?
Aubrey Evans has hit two home runs this spring, including one against Georgia on Friday.
As UCF faces two more highly ranked opponents, what adjustments might the team make to maintain their early-season momentum?
