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After UCF (19-8-1) snapped UA’s seven game winning streak and took a lead in the series, the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ (22-4) beat the Knights, 10-1, in five innings.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ is currently ranked No. 4 in the NCAA women’s softball RPI ranking system and on D1Softball. The team is ranked No. 7 on USA Softball.

“These last two days, that wasn’t us,� freshman Ryan Maddox said.

Last season, the Knights were 0-15 against ranked teams. It is the Knights’ highest ranked series win, according to UCF. The school’s softball program dates back to 2002.

Before the series, the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ had lost twice, to then No. 1 Texas 8-4 in eight innings and to Washington, 6-2, though they beat the Huskies 4-0 a couple days later.

“Challenges, the hard times, those are built into the season, no matter (what), nobody’s immune to it, so when we get punched a little bit, I need to know what kind of team we have after that,� said UA head coach Caitlin Lowe. “I like that this is our Sunday team after two losses.

“I thought we were closer yesterday, but we did not show up on Friday.�

Going into the series, UCF was coming off a 4-1 loss to Georgia Southern at home while ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ is coming off an 11-3 win over then No. 23 San Diego State in Southern California in six innings.

Last season, UCF went 31-25, 12-15 in the Big 12.

On Sunday, junior outfielder Dakota Kennedy led off the game with a home run. Then freshman infielder Jenna Sniffen knocked in a couple runs and another run scored on an error to put the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ ahead, 4-0.

Four runs is the most the UA had scored against the Knights in the first two games of the series.

In the second, senior pitcher/infielder Devyn Netz got a painful RBI, getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Then a batter later, junior utility player Sydney Stewart got an RBI the same way.

After a run scored on fielder’s choice by graduate student pitcher/infielder Miranda Stoddard, Sniffen doubled to knock in two more runs.

“I think we did a good job of going back to what we are as an offense and being ourselves and being okay with taking small losses and translating it to big wins,� Sniffen said. “That worked out in our favor.�

Next, junior infielder Tayler Biehl hit an RBI single to put ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ up 10-0.

In the third, UCF responded with a solo home run.

Ryan Maddox (3-0) made her second start of the season in the circle for ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥.

Maddox was the 2023 California Gatorade Player of the Year but missed last season with a foot injury.

Lowe said Maddox’s outing was fantastic.

“And that’s the Ryan I know. I think she’s calm, cool, composed under pressure,� Lowe said. “She wants big games, you can’t sit on anything with her, so she’s funky and reads barrel angles and she’s a pitcher, a true pitcher who reads that angle and throws everything. (I’m) so proud of her, proud of her guts and just going after people, really playing the game, pitching to our defense when we needed to.�

On Saturday, UCF won the series with a 5-4 victory. The ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ had 10 hits but left 13 runners on base.

In the first inning, junior utility player Kaiah Altmeyer doubled, allowing Kennedy to score. Then in the second, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ took a 2-0 lead after Biehl hit her first home run of the season.

UCF tied it up in the third with a 2-run homer.

UA got the lead back in the third when Netz hit a solo round tripper.

However, a Wildcat fielding error helped UCF tied it up again in the fourth and then in the fifth, the Knights hit another 2-run home run.

In the sixth, sophomore utility Emily Schepp scored on a sacrifice but in the seventh, the Knights held the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ scoreless to take the series.

Netz (8-3) dropped her second straight game after pitching 3 1/3 innings in relief. Stoddard started at pitcher and gave up 2 earned runs over 2 2/3 innings on 6 hits and a walk.

The ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ opened their Big 12 account with a 9-3 loss to UCF on Friday, having committed more errors (4) than runs scored.

UCF went ahead 2-0 in the first inning off a throwing error. Then in the second they went ahead 3-0 off a solo home run.

In the bottom of the second Netz hit a solo home run. Then the Knights hit a solo home run the fourth.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ went into the seventh inning down 4-3 after scoring two in the home half of the sixth. Altmeyer hit a solo home run and Kennedy scored on an error.

However, with two outs in the seventh, the Knights scored five off a home run, a double and a throwing error.

Lowe said she thought they were trying to do too much in the first game.

Kennedy returned for the first time since Feb. 9. The All-American went 1-for-3 with a double in her return from a finger injury.

“We missed her (laughs),� Maddox said. “She’s a big part of our line up, just energy, offense, defense and it’s just so good to see her smiling in the dug out.�

In the circle, Netz took the loss after going 4 innings and giving up 3 earned runs with 4 strikeouts. Grad student Saya Swain relieved Netz and gave up 2 earned runs on 1 hit and 2 walks over 2 2/3 innings.

Up next for ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ is Utah State, 13-8 as of press time, on Monday at noon.

Extra bases

UA has 11 run rule wins this season.

Utah State head coach Todd Judge is from Oro Valley and founded the Oro Valley Sun Cats Softball Club. His daughter Mackenzie played softball for Pima Community College.

USU freshman catcher Jaelyn Castillo went to Salpointe Catholic. Aggies pitching coach Marissa Schuld played at UA before transferring to ASU.