Cripe Leads Kansas in Jayhawks 8-0 Win

Wednesday, April 2

Lawrence, Kan.

5 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

16-15

Kansas City

4-25

Kansas City

Kansas

Cripe Leads Kansas in Jayhawks 8-0 Win

4/2/2025 7:35:00 PM | Softball

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Lawrence, Kan. – The Kansas softball team defeated Kansas City in a non-conference midweek game at Arrocha Ballpark on Wednesday. The Jayhawks won 8-0 with the help of junior Hailey Cripe, who finished with two hits, two home runs, and three RBIs.

"I think it was good for us to come out strong tonight. We've been talking all week about staying focused, especially after a tough weekend at Texas Tech," said Head Coach Jennifer McFalls. "We needed a night like this to feel good and get ready as we head into our next challenge."

The Kansas defense started the game strong, led by senior Katie Brooks on the mound. Brooks recorded her first strikeout of the game, and the Jayhawks got out of the first inning without allowing a hit. Kansas carried this momentum to the plate as junior Aynslee Linduff fired a shot to left field, followed by Cripe launching her first home run to center field, giving the Jayhawks an early 2-0 lead to end the first inning.

The defensive side for the Jayhawks, continued to dominate, holding Kansas City scoreless through the second and third innings while allowing only two hits. The Jayhawks added to their lead in the third inning with Cripe's second home run of the game to center field. The solo home run gave her a team-leading six homers and marked her career's third multi-home run game. Later in the inning, sophomore September Flanagan singled to left field, securing her 15th hit of the season. Flanagan was then brought home after a two-run home run from senior Sara Roszak, extending the Jayhawks' lead to 5-0 heading into the fourth inning.

Freshman Kaelee Washington replaced Brooks on the mound to start the fourth inning, and the Kansas defense continued to impress. The Jayhawks kept Kansas City off the scoreboard through the fourth and fifth innings. The bats stayed hot in the fifth, as freshman Karsen Griggs secured her sixth hit of the season with a single to center field. Senior Natalie Marshall followed with a two-run RBI double, bringing home Griggs and Limbaugh to extend Kansas's lead to 7-0. Marshall's double in the bottom of the fifth marked the first of her season and career.

The Jayhawks sealed the victory after five innings when junior Presley Limbaugh delivered an RBI single, bringing home Marshall for the final score of 8-0. With the win, Kansas improved to 16-15 in the season.

Pitchers of Record:
Win: Katie Brooks (4-3)
Line: 3.0 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 SO
Loss: Hannah Burks (1-6)
Line: 3.0 IP, 5 R, 6 H, 2 BB, 0 SO

Up Next
The Jayhawks are back on the road for their fourth conference series against Arizona State on April 4-6. The weekend series can be streamed on ESPN+

Notables

Hailey Cripe tied her single-game career high with two home runs, launching a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning and a solo shot in the third. She recorded three RBIs on Kansas's first three runs. Cripe now has six home runs this season and 17 in her career while notching her eighth multi-RBI game of the year. She finished a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate, securing her ninth multi-hit game of the season.
Aynslee Linduff doubled to left field in the bottom of the first inning, marking her seventh double of the season and the 18th of her career.
Presley Limbaugh recorded her fourth stolen base of the season in the bottom of the second inning.
Sara Roszak blasted a home run to left field in the bottom of the third inning, marking her second straight game with a homer. It was her second home run of the season and the sixth of her career.
Making her eighth start in the circle this season, Katie Brooks pitched 3.0 innings, allowing no runs, no walks, and just two hits while recording one strikeout.
Karsen Griggs set a new single-game career high with two stolen bases in the bottom of the fifth inning after reaching base on a single to center field—her sixth hit of the year.
Natalie Marshall tallied her first double of the season down the left-field line, driving in two runs. Her two RBIs bring her season total to four.
Kansas's three home runs mark the second time this season the Jayhawks have hit three or more homers in a game, the last occurring against East Texas A&M on March 1, 2025.
Kansas improves to 9-4 in games where they record a home run.
The Jayhawks recorded a season-high five stolen bases (previous high: four, achieved twice, most recently against Omaha on March 13, 2025).