Completed Event: Softball versus Florida on February 8, 2026 , Loss , 2, to, 11
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Softball
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Kansas Finishes Strong Against USF, Secures McFalls’ 150th Victory
2/13/2026 7:38:00 PM | Softball
TAMPA, Fla. – Kansas Softball delivered a complete team performance to defeat the South Florida Bulls, 7–2, on Friday night, securing the 150th career Kansas victory for head coach Jennifer McFalls.Kansas improved to 5–4 on the season and will look to close out the Fonseca Memorial Tournament with two wins against the DePaul Blue Demons and the Yale Bulldogs on Saturday morning.
"This is the best we've really stuck together as a team. I could feel the energy from start to finish, and we needed a big team win, and we got it," said head coach Jennifer McFalls. "Everyone stepped up, from our defense to our pitchers, and our team stayed locked in and ready. I'm just really proud of how we competed and stayed together."
In a game that featured early momentum swings, a tense late-inning escape, and a decisive seventh-inning offensive explosion, Kansas leaned on timely hitting and clutch relief pitching to pull away. The Jayhawks broke a one-run game open with four runs in the final frame, with a Haiely Cripe home run, and shut the door defensively in the last inning
How It Happened | vs. USF
Win: Chloe Barber (3-2)
Final line: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 4 SO
Loss: Anne Long (1-2)
Final line: 3.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 2 SO
Up Next
The Jayhawks will remain in Florida for one more day and look to close out the Fonseca Memorial Tournament with two wins against DePaul and Yale on Saturday. Fans can follow the final day of action through live stats or by following the Kansas Softball X account.
"This is the best we've really stuck together as a team. I could feel the energy from start to finish, and we needed a big team win, and we got it," said head coach Jennifer McFalls. "Everyone stepped up, from our defense to our pitchers, and our team stayed locked in and ready. I'm just really proud of how we competed and stayed together."
In a game that featured early momentum swings, a tense late-inning escape, and a decisive seventh-inning offensive explosion, Kansas leaned on timely hitting and clutch relief pitching to pull away. The Jayhawks broke a one-run game open with four runs in the final frame, with a Haiely Cripe home run, and shut the door defensively in the last inning
How It Happened | vs. USF
- Presley Limbaugh got things started by using her speed to reach first, but USF quickly turned a double play on the next Kansas batter to record two outs. September Flanagan kept the offense going with a single to left, but the defense retired the Jayhawks on a foul ball catch.
- Chloe Barber got the start in the circle and, in her first trip through the lineup, the defense opened with a groundout before Barber did the rest of the work by recording a strikeout and fielding a groundout herself.
- In the bottom of the second, USF got on the board first with a homerun to center field, to make it a 1-0 game.
- In the top of the fourth, Anna Soles walked to open the frame and Madi Hays entered as a pinch runner before Campbell Bagshaw moved her into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. After a passed ball advanced Hays to third, Cripe was hit by a pitch and stole second. Ella Boyer singled to left to bring in the first run, and later Limbaugh delivered a two-RBI single to score two more to take the lead at 3-1
- The Bulls answered in the bottom half with a solo home run to cut the deficit to 3–2, but Kansas maintained the lead.
- The score remained tight through the fifth and sixth innings, with neither team scoring.
- In the bottom of the sixth, USF loaded the bases and threatened to take control, but Kaelee Washington entered in relief of Barber and shut the door with a clutch strikeout, looking to end the inning.
- Kansas ignited the seventh with a clutch double to left-center by Aynslee Linduff, who was replaced by pinch runner Bailey Weber and quickly moved into scoring position. Emma Tatum followed with an RBI single back to the pitcher, allowing Weber to race home for the first run of the inning. After Soles worked a walk to keep the rally alive, Cripe delivered the decisive blow with a towering three-run home run to left, bringing home both Soles and Tatum and capping a momentum-shifting inning for the Jayhawks, and put Kansas up 7-2.
- In the bottom of the seventh, USF threatened with a leadoff single, but Washington stayed composed in the circle. The Jayhawks' defense locked in behind her, recording three straight flyouts to shut the door and secure a well-deserved 7–2 victory for Kansas.
Win: Chloe Barber (3-2)
Final line: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 4 SO
Loss: Anne Long (1-2)
Final line: 3.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 2 SO
Up Next
The Jayhawks will remain in Florida for one more day and look to close out the Fonseca Memorial Tournament with two wins against DePaul and Yale on Saturday. Fans can follow the final day of action through live stats or by following the Kansas Softball X account.
Players Mentioned
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OF
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