Jayhawks Offensive Surge Falls Short in Extra-Innings Against Utah

Friday, March 21

Salt Lake City

5 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

Utah

Jayhawks Offensive Surge Falls Short in Extra-Innings Against Utah

3/21/2025 9:40:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF) Season Stats

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Kansas brought the firepower in the first game of its three-game series against Utah, but despite a strong offensive performance, the Jayhawks fell just short in a thrilling extra-inning battle. Kansas launched three home runs and racked up 13 hits, but Utah clawed back to tie the game late and secured the win with a walk-off homer in the ninth, handing Kansas a heartbreaking 13-10 loss.

The Jayhawks wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning. Presley Limbaugh led off with a base hit, followed by another from Aynslee Linduff, putting two runners in scoring position. Senior Olivia Bruno capitalized in the three-spot, crushing a stand-up triple to right-center her first of the season, driving in two runs to give Kansas an early 2-0 lead.
Bruno also got the start in the circle and came out strong, striking out the first two batters, one looking and one swinging. With two outs, Utah managed to push across a run before the inning ended on runner interference, keeping Kansas in front 2-1.

Kansas extended its lead in the top of the second when Linduff stepped up and smashed a three-run home run to center, making it a 5-1 game. The Jayhawks kept the momentum rolling in the third as both Hailey Cripe and freshman Karsen Griggs delivered home runs after lengthy at-bats, pushing the lead to 8-1.

However, Utah refused to go quietly. In the bottom of the third, the Utes loaded the bases and drove in two runs to chip away at the deficit, closing the gap to 8-3.

The pressure mounted in the bottom of the fifth when Utah loaded the bases again. With one out, the Utes brought two runs across to make it 8-5 before adding two more to inch even closer. With two outs, Kansas finally escaped the inning on a groundout fielded cleanly by Griggs, but Utah had trimmed the lead to just one at 8-7.

Kansas responded in the top of the seventh as Bruno reached first on a base hit, followed by a Cripe double that brought her home. Junior Campbell Bagshaw then ripped a double of her own, plating Cripe from third and extending Kansas' lead to 10-7.

But Utah had one final push left. The Utes rallied in the bottom of the seventh, scoring three runs to tie the game at 10-10 and force extra innings.

The Jayhawks fought to keep the game alive through nine innings, but a Utah home run in the bottom of the ninth sealed the walk-off victory, handing Kansas a tough loss despite its strong offensive performance.

Pitchers of Record

Win: Shelbee Jones (Utah)
Line: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO
Loss: Katie Brooks (Kansas)
Line: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 0 SO

Up Next

Kansas continues its three-game series against Utah tomorrow, with first pitch set for 5 p.m. CT.

Notables

Senior Olivia Bruno hit her first triple of the 2025 season and the team's fourth overall.
Aynslee Linduff launched her first home run of the season and the fifth of her career.
Hailey Cripe recorded her third home run of the season and the 14th of her career.
Karsen Griggs hit the first home run of both her season and career.
Kansas' three home runs in this game mark the second-most in a single game this season, trailing only the five they hit against East Texas A&M on March 1, 2025.
The Jayhawks extended the game to nine innings, tying their longest game of the 2025 season.
Kansas' 13 hits were the second-most in a game this season, behind only their March 1 performance against East Texas A&M.