Kansas Heads to Utah for Second Big 12 Series

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas softball continues its conference schedule with a road trip to Salt Lake City for a three-game series against Utah from March 21-23. The series opener is set for Friday March 21 at 5 p.m. CT.

"We are excited to play another Big 12 opponent this weekend. We were able to get a few days of rest at home and hit the reset button, so the energy and focus at practice have been great, said Head Coach Jennifer McFalls. "This will be our first trip to Salt Lake City. Utah always has a solid program that competes at a very high level, so it should be a fun matchup."

Kansas (13-10, 2-1 Big 12) enters the weekend after splitting a doubleheader against Omaha, a series that saw both strong pitching performances and timely offensive bursts. In the first game, the Jayhawks came up just short in a 2-1 loss, despite a stellar complete-game outing from senior Olivia Bruno, who struck out eight batters while allowing only two earned runs. Kansas responded in game two with an explosive six-run fourth inning that propelled them to a 7-4 victory. Bruno continued to be the driving force for the Jayhawks, not only recording three RBIs but also crushing a two-run home run that gave Kansas a much-needed spark.

Bruno's impact extends beyond just one series. The senior leads the team in home runs (5) and RBIs (17) while also serving as a dominant presence in the circle with a team-best 1.98 ERA. Freshman Kaelee Washington has been another key contributor on the mound, leading Kansas with 26 strikeouts this season. Junior Lizzy Ludwig has provided stability in the rotation as well, holding a 2.72 ERA with 14 strikeouts and two complete games.

At the plate, junior Presley Limbaugh continues to set the tone offensively with a .394 batting average. She leads Kansas in both hits (28) and doubles (7), while also showcasing her speed and versatility with a triple against Omaha in the series opener.

Prior to the Omaha doubleheader, Kansas faced Wichita State in a midweek matchup but came up short in a 7-3 loss. Despite the defeat, Bruno remained a bright spot, delivering two doubles and an RBI. Kansas will look to carry over the offensive momentum from its win over Omaha as it shifts its focus back to Big 12 play against Utah.

How to Follow
Fans can stay up to date with the action by following Kansas softball on X (Twitter), tracking live stats here, and watching all three games live on ESPN+