Upcoming Event: Softball versus Bethune-Cookman University on February 6, 2026 at 8 a.m. CT
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8 a.m. CT
Softball
vs Bethune-Cookman University
Friday, May 2
Lawrence, Kan.
5 p.m. CT
University of Kansas
22-25, 0
0
vs
7
University of Central Florida
30-21-1, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
UCF
0
2
0
0
2
2
1
7
11
1
Kansas
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Kansas Drops Game One Against UCF, 7-0
5/2/2025 7:26:00 PM | Softball
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas softball offense never found its rhythm as the Jayhawks dropped game one of the UCF series, 7-0, on Friday evening at Arrocha Ballpark.
Kansas falls to 22-25 on the season and 6-16 in conference play, while UCF improves to 30-21-1 and 10-12 in Big 12 action with two regular season games remaining.
Highlighting the Jayhawks' outing was freshman Kaelee Washington, who entered the circle in the top of the fifth inning and secured her 40th strikeout of the season. She retired three batters in her 2.1 innings of work.
The Kansas defense opened the contest with two back-to-back outs and held UCF scoreless through the top of the first. Offensively, the Jayhawks got two runners on base after Hailey Cripe was hit by a pitch and Olivia Bruno reached on an error. However, Kansas was unable to capitalize, and the inning ended scoreless.
UCF got two runners in scoring position in the top of the second. A fielder's choice by starting pitcher Katie Brooks prevented an early score, but the Knights still managed to load the bases with two outs. A single up the middle brought in the first two runs of the game, giving UCF a 2-0 lead after two innings.
Kansas' defense responded over the next few frames, recording all six outs in the third and fourth innings. The Jayhawks ended the third on a double play turned by Sara Roszak and Cripe, then followed it with a three-up, three-down fourth inning to keep the deficit at two.
In the top of the fifth, Presley Limbaugh robbed UCF of a potential three-run homer, leaping at the fence to make the grab. Washington entered the circle with one out remaining and helped Kansas escape the inning, trailing 4-0 heading into the bottom half.
UCF added two more runs in the sixth, though Washington managed to retire two batters, including one looking. The Knights led 6-0 going into the seventh.
Washignton tallied her third strikeout of the evening—and her 40th of the season—on a swing and miss in the top of the seventh. UCF capped its scoring with a solo home run to bring the final score to 7-0.
Pitchers of Record
Win: Isabella Vega (11-4)
Line: 7.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 4 SO
Loss: Katie Brooks (8-7)
Line: 4.2 IP, 4 R, 6 H, 4 BB, 0 SO
Up Next
Kansas continues its series against UCF with game two set for 2 p.m. CT on Saturday at Arrocha Ballpark. Fans can follow the action on ESPN+ or keep up on X (Twitter) and through live stats.
Notables
Kansas falls to 22-25 on the season and 6-16 in conference play, while UCF improves to 30-21-1 and 10-12 in Big 12 action with two regular season games remaining.
Highlighting the Jayhawks' outing was freshman Kaelee Washington, who entered the circle in the top of the fifth inning and secured her 40th strikeout of the season. She retired three batters in her 2.1 innings of work.
The Kansas defense opened the contest with two back-to-back outs and held UCF scoreless through the top of the first. Offensively, the Jayhawks got two runners on base after Hailey Cripe was hit by a pitch and Olivia Bruno reached on an error. However, Kansas was unable to capitalize, and the inning ended scoreless.
UCF got two runners in scoring position in the top of the second. A fielder's choice by starting pitcher Katie Brooks prevented an early score, but the Knights still managed to load the bases with two outs. A single up the middle brought in the first two runs of the game, giving UCF a 2-0 lead after two innings.
Kansas' defense responded over the next few frames, recording all six outs in the third and fourth innings. The Jayhawks ended the third on a double play turned by Sara Roszak and Cripe, then followed it with a three-up, three-down fourth inning to keep the deficit at two.
In the top of the fifth, Presley Limbaugh robbed UCF of a potential three-run homer, leaping at the fence to make the grab. Washington entered the circle with one out remaining and helped Kansas escape the inning, trailing 4-0 heading into the bottom half.
UCF added two more runs in the sixth, though Washington managed to retire two batters, including one looking. The Knights led 6-0 going into the seventh.
Washignton tallied her third strikeout of the evening—and her 40th of the season—on a swing and miss in the top of the seventh. UCF capped its scoring with a solo home run to bring the final score to 7-0.
Pitchers of Record
Win: Isabella Vega (11-4)
Line: 7.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 4 SO
Loss: Katie Brooks (8-7)
Line: 4.2 IP, 4 R, 6 H, 4 BB, 0 SO
Up Next
Kansas continues its series against UCF with game two set for 2 p.m. CT on Saturday at Arrocha Ballpark. Fans can follow the action on ESPN+ or keep up on X (Twitter) and through live stats.
Notables
- Kansas turned a double play in the top of the third to close out the inning. It marks the second straight game—and seventh time this season—that the Jayhawks have forced an opponent into a double play.
- Katie Brooks pitched 4.2 innings and currently leads the team with 82.2 innings pitched this season.
- Freshman Kaelee Washington,recorded her 40th strikeout of the season, collecting three over 2.1 innings of relief.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Isabella Vega (11-4)
L: Brooks, Katie (7-7)
Batting:
2B: Sierra Humphreys 1 ; Stormy Kotzelnick 1 ; Izzy Mertes 1 ; Coco Jaimes 1
HR: Aubrey Evans 1 ; Beth Damon 1
RBI: Aubrey Evans 3 ; Stormy Kotzelnick 1 ; Ashleigh Griffin 1 ; Beth Damon 2
SH: Beth Damon 1
SF: Ashleigh Griffin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Aubrey Evans 2 ; Sierra Humphreys 2 ; Beth Damon 2 ; Coco Jaimes 1
Base Running:
HBP: Cripe, Hailey 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P/UTL
/ Softball
RHP/UTL
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
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