Jayhawks Top Shockers 5-3 in Extra Innings

Wednesday, April 30

Wichita, Kan.

6 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

22-24

Wichita State

26-23-1

Kansas

Wichita State

Jayhawks Top Shockers 5-3 in Extra Innings

4/30/2025 10:00:00 PM | Softball

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WICHITA, Kan. – Kansas softball earned a gritty 5-3 extra-inning victory over in-state rival Wichita State on Wednesday evening at Wilkins Stadium. The win marks the final regular-season road contest for the Jayhawks and improves their overall record to 22- 24, while the Shockers fall to 26-23-1.

"We could've easily gotten down on ourselves when they tied the game early, but we stayed mentally tough and finished strong," said Kansas head coach Jennifer McFalls."It was an overall team effort with a lot of good contributions from different players. I'm really proud of our fight tonight, and I want to carry that momentum into the weekend."

KU senior Olivia Bruno made her presence felt both in the circle and at the plate. The two-way standout launched her 11th home run of the season in the second inning, giving Kansas an early lead. Bruno also threw 6.2 innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs while striking out three batters in her 16th start of the season.

After three scoreless innings from the Kansas defense, Wichita State responded with a solo home run in the fourth to even the score at 1-1. In the sixth, the Jayhawks capitalized on defensive miscues, plating two unearned runs as Presley Limbaugh and Kadence Stafford both crossed home to give Kansas a 3-1 lead.

Wichita State forced extra innings with a two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh, but Kansas stayed composed.

In relief, Jayhawk senior Katie Brooks delivered a season-best performance. Entering in the eighth, she struck out the side to escape a scoring threat, then returned in the ninth to add two more strikeouts. In earning the win, Brooks finished with five strikeouts and no hits allowed, matching her season high in strikeouts last recorded against Baylor on March 7.

The Jayhawks responded with clutch hitting in the ninth. Senior Natalie Marshall delivered an RBI double to left center to give Kansas the lead, followed by an RBI single from Limbaugh to push the score to 5-3. Brooks recorded two crucial strikeouts, and the defense sealed the win by handling the final out with a flyout to center.

Pitchers of Record
Win: Katie Brooks (8-6)
Line: 2.1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 5 SO
Loss: Ryley Nihart (9-6)
Line: 4.0 IP, 4 R, 4 H, 4 BB, 3 SO

Up Next
Kansas will now turn its attention to the regular-season finale as the Jayhawks return home to host UCF for a weekend series at Arrocha Ballpark.May 2-4.

Notables:

Bruno launched her 11th home run of the season. She has now homered in back-to-back games.
Kansas regained the lead three different times in its contest against Wichita State — in the second, sixth, and ninth innings.
Sophomore Madi Hays recorded her 10th stolen base of the season.
Senior Natalie Marshall tallied her second double of the season.
Katie Brooks struck out five batters against the Shockers, tying her season high. She also recorded five strikeouts against Baylor on March 7, 2025.