Kansas Comes Up Just Short in Back-and-Forth Battle at Iowa State

Friday, April 18

Ames, Iowa

4 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

18-22, 4-13

Iowa State

23-18, 11-6

Kansas

Iowa State

Kansas Comes Up Just Short in Back-and-Forth Battle at Iowa State

4/18/2025 7:06:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Stats

AMES, Iowa – Kansas softball dropped a close 7-6 contest to Iowa State in game two of the series at the Cyclone Sports Complex Friday night.

Junior Hailey Cripe led the Jayhawks with a standout performance, going 3-for-4 with two home runs and three RBIs, bringing her season total to a team-high eight homers.

Kansas struck first with a solo shot from Cripe in the opening inning, but Iowa State quickly responded with a two-run homer in the bottom half to take a 2-1 lead. Sophomore Anna Soles added a single in the second, but the Jayhawks couldn't capitalize. Freshman pitcher Kennedy Diggs bounced back in the circle with a hitless second inning and two strikeouts.

Cripe tied the game at 2-2 in the third with another deep shot to left. In the fourth, back-to-back stolen bases by Madi Hayes and Karsen Griggs set up an RBI fielder's choice by junior Presley Limbaugh, giving Kansas a 3-2 lead.

The Cyclones answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth, tying the game once again. Freshman Kaelee Washington came in to relieve Diggs and held Iowa State scoreless for the rest of the inning.

Kansas regained the lead in the fifth after a double by junior Campbell Bagshaw and a two-run homer from freshman Ava Wallace, making it 5-3. Iowa State threatened with two runners in scoring position, but Washington and the defense escaped the jam.

Cripe added an RBI double in the sixth to push the lead to 6-3. However, the Jayhawks were shut down in the top of the seventh, and Iowa State capitalized in the bottom half. After a pitching change to junior Lizzy Ludwig, the Cyclones rallied for four runs to walk it off and secure the 7-6 win.

With the loss, Kansas falls to 18-22 overall and 4-13 in Big 12 play, while Iowa State improves to 23-18 and 11-6 in the conference.

Pitchers of Record:
Win: Jaiden Ralston (8-6)
Line: 4.0 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 SO
Loss: Lizzy Ludwig (0-3)
Line: 0.1 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 SO

Up Next
The Jayhawks will close out the three-game series against the Cyclones tomorrow with a 1 p.m. CT first pitch. Fans can follow along by streaming the game live on ESPN+.

Notables

Hailey Cripe's two home runs bring her season total to a team-leading eight. It marks the second time this season she's hit two home runs in a game, with the last coming against Kansas City on April 2, 2025.
Cripe recorded her fifth double of the season in the top of the sixth inning.
Kennedy Diggs notched her 30th strikeout of the season in the bottom of the second. She finished the game with three strikeouts and now has 31 on the year.
Kaelee Washington tallied her 35th strikeout of the season in the bottom of the fifth.
Ava Wallace hit her fourth home run of the season in the top of the fifth inning.