Late Rally Lifts FAU Past Kansas, 6-5

Thursday, February 19

Boca Raton, Fla.

5 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

Florida Atlantic

Late Rally Lifts FAU Past Kansas, 6-5

2/19/2026 8:58:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Stats 12.19

Boca Raton, Fla. – Kansas dropped a heartbreaking 6-5 decision to Florida Atlantic on a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning Thursday night.

The Jayhawks held a 5-4 lead entering the final frame but were unable to add insurance in the top half. FAU used a leadoff double and two walks to load the bases before delivering a two-run single to seal the win. Kansas finished with eight hits, highlighted by a home run and double from Ella Boyer, while Bailey Amezcua added two hits.

How It Happened | vs. FAU

Presley Limbaugh sparked the offense from the leadoff spot with her second double of the season. With two outs, Hailey Cripe lined a ball over the shortstop's head, scoring Limbaugh and giving Kansas a 1-0 lead. Boyer drew a walk to extend the two-out rally, and a single by Campbell Bagshaw brought Cripe home to make it 2-0. Kansas later loaded the bases, but FAU escaped the inning and halted the Jayhawks' rally.
Chloe Barber made her fifth start of the season in the circle. With two FAU runners aboard, a hard-hit ball brought in two runs to tie the game. Left fielder Tehya Pitts recorded the final out of the inning to retire the side, but FAU evened the score at 2-2 in the second inning.
Kansas recorded two quick outs to start the inning, but Boyer stepped up and drilled her third home run of the season to left field, helping Kansas retake the lead, 3-2, in the top of the second.
FAU answered in the bottom half with a single to left field that brought in the tying run, evening the score at 3-3 as the game continued into a back-and-forth seven-inning battle.
Kansas was unable to capitalize in its fourth at-bat, recording just one hit and leaving a runner in scoring position. In the bottom half, FAU continued to apply pressure with a double to left-center, then followed with another hit that drove in the go-ahead run to take a 4-3 lead.
The Jayhawks quickly put a runner in scoring position after a walk and a groundout that advanced pinch-runner Audri Youngblood. Boyer continued her strong night at the plate with a double to left-center, driving in Youngblood to tie the game once again at 4-4. FAU was unable to capitalize in their half of the inning, as Kansas held the tie heading into the sixth.
Through the sixth, Amezcua got things started for Kansas with a single to second base. Ava Wallace came in as a pinch hitter for Pitts and made the most of her opportunity, singling up the middle to drive in Amezcua and give the Jayhawks a 5-4 lead. Kansas carried that momentum into the defensive half, going three up, three down to maintain the lead heading into the final frame.
Kansas couldn't add any insurance runs in the top of the seventh, going down in order. In the bottom half, FAU rallied with a leadoff double and loaded the bases with two walks. A single through the left side drove in two runs, giving FAU a walk-off win at 6-5 despite Kansas' solid defensive effort.

PITCHERS OF RECORD
Win: Autumn Courtney (3-3)
Final line: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO
Loss: Lilia Partridge (1-1)
Final line: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 SO

Up Next
The Jayhawks remain in Boca Raton to continue play at the Joan Joyce Classic, where they will face Villanova and Southern Indiana in morning matchups. Both games will be streamed on FloSports (subscription required). Fans can also follow along via the Kansas Softball X account and through live stats.