Kansas Battles Baylor Through Extra Innings but Falls in the Bottom of the Ninth

Friday, March 7

Waco, Texas

6:30 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

10-8, 0

Baylor

11-11, 0

Kansas

Baylor

Kansas Battles Baylor Through Extra Innings but Falls in the Bottom of the Ninth

3/7/2025 10:19:00 PM | Softball

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WACO, Texas – Kansas pushed Baylor to the brink in a tightly contested Big 12 opener, battling through nine innings before falling 3-2 in Waco. Both teams showcased strong pitching and defense, keeping the score low and the pressure high. With the win, Baylor takes a 1-0 lead in the series heading into Saturday's matchup

"We got ourselves out of a lot of tough jams. We did not play a clean game, but we responded well and did not let things snowball," said Head Coach Jennifer McFalls. "Defensively, we stayed in it, and Katie Brooks did a great job making some key defensive stops. We just need better run production. When we have runners in scoring position, we have to get timely hits. When you let a good team stick around, they will find a way to beat you."

The Jayhawks went scoreless in the first before shifting to defense. Katie Brooks took the circle, recording a pair of strikeouts while the Bears applied early pressure, advancing a runner to third. Kansas stayed composed, relying on its season-long defensive strength to escape the inning.

Kansas found offensive momentum in the second as Ava Wallace and Anna Soles singled to right, followed by a Campbell Bagshaw walk to load the bases with two outs. However, a groundout kept the game scoreless. The Bears responded with a solo home run in their half of the inning, but Katie Brooks regrouped, recording a strikeout to end the frame at 1-0.

The Jayhawks continued to put runners on but couldn't capitalize, trailing 1-0 heading into the fifth. Despite solid contact at the plate, Kansas struggled to find gaps as the Bears' defense made timely outs.

With two innings left, Kansas found the breakthrough they needed in the sixth. Ava Wallace led off with a single to left, prompting Madi Hays to pinch run and quickly swipe second. Anna Soles followed with a single of her own, advancing to second as Hays moved to third. With momentum building, September Flanagan came through in a crucial moment, legging out an infield single to second. The play created chaos for Baylor's defense, allowing both Hays and Kadance Stafford, who came in to pinch run, to cross home plate and give Kansas its first lead of the night at 2-1.

However, the Bears didn't go down quietly, putting runners on second and third in their half of the sixth. Despite the pressure, Kansas' defense held strong, backing up the pitching and shutting down Baylor's scoring opportunity to preserve the 2-1 lead going into the 7th inning.

Baylor wasted no time tying the game in the sixth, launching a solo home run with no outs to even the score at 2-2. However, the Jayhawks responded with lockdown defense, recording three consecutive outs to force extra innings.

Unable to break the tie in the eighth, Kansas relied on its defense once again. After a stellar outing from senior Katie Brooks, freshman Kaelee Washington came in to relieve. Baylor advanced a runner to third but added two outs in the process. Kansas remained unfazed, with September Flanagan securing the final out by catching a pop fly to end the inning in which they pushed the game to the ninth.

In the bottom of the ninth inning Baylor found a way to score off of an RBI single to win the game 3-2.

Pitchers of Record
Win: Lillie Walker
Line: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO
Loss: Kaelee Washington
Line: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SO

Up Next
The Jayhawks continue their three game series against Baylor tomorrow evening at 2 p.m. CT