Kansas Tops FGCU Behind Cripe’s Two-Homer Night

Tuesday, February 10

Fort Myers, Fla.

4 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

3-3

Florida Gulf Coast

2-3

Kansas

FGCU

Kansas Tops FGCU Behind Cripe’s Two-Homer Night

2/10/2026 8:38:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season stats 2.10

Fort Myers, Fla. – Hailey Cripe powered Kansas to a 5–3 win over FGCU with a pair of home runs, helping the Jayhawks secure their third victory of the season Tuesday night.

Kansas built an early lead, weathered a midgame push from the Eagles and answered with Cripe's second blast of the night before the pitching staff and defense combined to close out the victory.

"We found a way to get the win tonight, but we know we still have things to clean up," said head coach Jennifer McFalls. "The focus is staying confident, attacking the zone and continuing to get better as we head into another stretch of games."

How It Happened | vs. FGCU

Kansas went down in order in the first inning, while Chloe Barber worked around two walks to keep FGCU scoreless.
Cripe gave Kansas the early lead in the second inning with a two-run home run to left center after Campbell Bagshaw doubled down the line.
FGCU answered with an unearned run in the bottom of the second after a single and Kansas error trimmed the lead to 2–1.
Kansas added two more runs in the third as Presley Limbaugh walked and Aynslee Linduff reached on an error before September Flanagan delivered a two-RBI single to extend the lead to 4–1.
Through four innings, Barber was strong in the circle, allowing just one run on two hits while the defense committed one error. Kennedy Diggs entered in relief and delivered a 1-2-3 inning, retiring the side with a groundout, a popup and a strikeout looking.
To begin the top of the fifth, Linduff singled to center field to spark the offense, but Kansas was unable to capitalize and left the runner stranded.
FGCU regained momentum in the bottom half with a solo home run to center field to take the lead, then kept the rally going with a single before adding another run on an RBI double.
The Jayhawk defense ended the inning with a tag out at second base, with Kansas trailing 4–3.
Kansas answered in the sixth as Cripe blasted her second home run of the game to deep center field, extending the lead to 5-3. Blakely Barber then entered in the bottom half and delivered a 1-2-3 inning with help from her defense to send the game to the seventh.
Kansas was unable to add insurance in its final at-bat, but a strong defensive effort in the bottom half secured the Jayhawks' third win of the season, 5–3.

PITCHERS OF RECORD
Win: Chloe Barber (2-1)
Final line: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 SO
Loss: Julia Bacoulis (1-1)
Final line: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 4 SO

Up Next
Kansas will continue its weeks-long stretch in the state of Florida as it returns to Tampa and USF Softball Stadium to compete in the Fonescao Memorial Tournament. The Jayhawks will face Indiana State, Boston College and USF before wrapping up tournament play Saturday, Feb. 14, against DePaul and Yale. The game against USF will be streamed on ESPN+, and fans can follow the remaining games on the Kansas Softball X (Twitter) account or via live stats