Elkins dazzles in the UCF debut, Softball does Illinois, 2-1 – UCF athletics

The added insurance proved necessary, as Illinois managed a trio of singles within its first five seventh-inning at-bats to push its first run of the game across with two outs.

Ball-Malone’s faith in Elkins never wavered, and the right-hander, along with a standout game-clinching play by a pair of freshman infielders that forced a share of Elkins’ spotlight, rewarded UCF’s seventh-year head coach.

Elkins induced a ground ball that chopped over her head and to Coco Jaimes at second base, whose throw was seconds too late to record the out at first base. Izzy Mertes, tabbed for the start at first base by Ball-Malone, alertly made an accurate throw to Beth Damon behind the plate to cut down the attempted tying run for the contest’s final out.

How’s that for an ending?! pic.twitter.com/qDHH5cJPuQ

— UCF Softball (@UCF_Softball) February 9, 2025

“That’s why we do live situations all the time,” Ball-Malone said. “With that, we’ve always talked about being ready for the runner coming through, so Izzy being ready was awesome. She was looking for it, she knew, she didn’t look for the call. I’m pleased with how they stayed under control and composed in that moment.”

UP NEXT

UCF will look to bring its momentum into the weekend’s final day of action, when the team will match up with the James Madison Dukes at 11 a.m., followed by a second tilt with Illinois at 1 p.m. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.

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