Completed Event: Softball versus Utah State on March 6, 2026 , Win , 18, to, 2 , (5 Inn.)
Final
Softball
18
vs Utah State
(5 Inn.)
2
Sunday, March 15
Houston, Texas
11 a.m. CT
University of Kansas
20-8, 2-1
11
at
8
Houston
17-12, 1-5
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Kansas
0
0
1
1
2
6
1
11
10
1
Houston
0
0
0
1
0
3
4
8
8
1
Jayhawks Claim First Conference Series of Season Against Houston, 2-1
3/15/2026 4:11:00 PM | Softball
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas softball claimed its first conference series win of the season, defeating Houston to take the series 2-1 behind timely hitting and another powerful offensive showing. The Jayhawks used four home runs, including a grand slam from Aynslee Linduff, to build an early lead and hold off a late Houston rally.
"This was a great team win and an important step for us in conference play," head coach Jennifer McFalls said. "Our hitters stayed aggressive, our defense made key plays when we needed them, and it was good to see contributions throughout the lineup. Taking a series on the road is never easy, and I'm proud of the way our team competed all weekend."
KU now improves to 20-8 overall and 2-1 in conference play. This marks the second consecutive season Kansas softball has played its first conference series of the year in its conference-opening weekend. Last season, the Jayhawks played Baylor in 2025, taking the series 2-1, highlighted by an extra-innings game and a 12-2 run-rule victory in the series finale
Win: Lila Partridge (3-2)
Final line: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 4 SO
Loss: Nevaeh Brown (8-4)
Final line: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 3 SOUP NEXT
"This was a great team win and an important step for us in conference play," head coach Jennifer McFalls said. "Our hitters stayed aggressive, our defense made key plays when we needed them, and it was good to see contributions throughout the lineup. Taking a series on the road is never easy, and I'm proud of the way our team competed all weekend."
KU now improves to 20-8 overall and 2-1 in conference play. This marks the second consecutive season Kansas softball has played its first conference series of the year in its conference-opening weekend. Last season, the Jayhawks played Baylor in 2025, taking the series 2-1, highlighted by an extra-innings game and a 12-2 run-rule victory in the series finale
- Kansas and Houston were locked in a scoreless battle through the first two innings as both defenses held strong.
- The Jayhawks struck first in the top of the third when Campbell Bagshaw launched a solo home run to give Kansas a 1-0 lead.
- Kansas added to its advantage later in the inning when Bagshaw delivered again, lifting a sacrifice fly down the third-base line to score Bailey Weber and extend the lead to 2-0.
- Houston threatened in the bottom of the fourth, but the Kansas defense held firm with a bunt groundout followed by two flyouts to escape the inning without allowing a run.
- The Jayhawks created more separation in the fifth inning when Hailey Cripe crushed a two-run home run, pushing the Kansas lead to 4-1.
- Kansas continued its offensive surge in the sixth inning. Kadence Stafford opened the frame with a double to deep center field before Tehya Pitts lined a double down the right-field line to drive in Stafford and advance to third on the throw. Presley Limbaugh followed with an RBI single to bring Pitts home. With the bases later loaded, Aynslee Linduff delivered the biggest swing of the game, crushing a grand slam to deep center field to extend Kansas' lead to 10-1.
- Kansas added one more run in the seventh when September Flanagan entered as a pinch hitter and launched a solo home run to deep center field.
- Houston responded in the bottom half of the inning. After a strikeout to start the frame, the Cougars loaded the bases with a single, a walk and a Kansas fielding error. Houston then connected on a four-run home run to deep center field before the inning ended on a groundout.
- The Jayhawks held on to secure the series victory over Houston, 2-1, marking Kansas' first conference series win of the season and 20 wins in toal on the season. Over the course of the weekend, Kansas totaled 13 home runs across three games, averaging 4.3 home runs per game.
Win: Lila Partridge (3-2)
Final line: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 4 SO
Loss: Nevaeh Brown (8-4)
Final line: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 3 SO
UP NEXT
Kansas returns home and will have a day off before returning to action Tuesday, when the Jayhawks host South Dakota in a midweek doubleheader. First pitch for Game 1 is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT on March 17. Fans can stream the games on ESPN+, follow along with live stats, or keep up with the action on the Kansas Softball X account.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Partridge, Lila (3-2)
L: Brown, Nevaeh (8-4)
Batting:
2B: Stafford, Kadence 1 ; Pitts, Tehya 1
HR: Cripe, Hailey 1 ; Linduff, Aynslee 1 ; Bagshaw, Campbell 1 ; Flanagan, September 1
RBI: Cripe, Hailey 2 ; Limbaugh, Presley 1 ; Linduff, Aynslee 4 ; Bagshaw, Campbell 2 ; Flanagan, September 1 ; Pitts, Tehya 1
SH: Cripe, Hailey 1 ; Stafford, Kadence 1
SF: Bagshaw, Campbell 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cripe, Hailey 2 ; Limbaugh, Presley 1 ; Soles, Anna 1 ; Hays, Madi 1 ; Linduff, Aynslee 1 ; Stafford, Kadence 1 ; Bagshaw, Campbell 1 ; Flanagan, September 1 ; Weber, Bailey 1 ; Pitts, Tehya 1
SB: Cripe, Hailey 1
CS: Limbaugh, Presley 1 ; Stafford, Kadence 1
HBP: Cripe, Hailey 1
Batting:
2B: Mitchell, Makenna 1 ; Mitchael, Madox 1
HR: Luther, Savanna 1 ; Hartley, Maddie 1
RBI: Luther, Savanna 4 ; Hartley, Maddie 1 ; Rawls, Gabby 1 ; Mitchael, Madox 2
SH: Gardner, RyLee 1
SF: Mitchael, Madox 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Luther, Savanna 1 ; Hartley, Maddie 2 ; Mitchell, Makenna 3 ; Redmond, Ariel 1 ; Mitchael, Madox 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
2
H
1
RBI
2
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
dp/lf
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF/UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballSoftball Highlights vs. Houston
Saturday, March 14
Softball Highlights vs Utah State, game 2
Friday, March 06
Softball Highlights vs Utah State, game 1
Friday, March 06
Jennifer McFalls Press Conference
Tuesday, February 03