Jayhawks Use Early Surge to Take Series Opener Over BYU, 6–4

Thursday, March 26

Provo, Utah

7 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

24-9, 24-9

BYU

10-21, 1-6

Kansas

BYU

Photo by: Jordyn Pennington/Kansas Athletics

Jayhawks Use Early Surge to Take Series Opener Over BYU, 6–4

3/26/2026 11:28:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Stats 3.26 Conference Stats 3.26

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas rode a four-run second inning and steady work in the circle to a 6–4 win over the BYU Cougarsl on Friday night, improving to 24–9 overall and 5–2 in Big 12 Conference play.

The Jayhawks have now secured five conference victories and are now just one shy of their total Big 12 win mark from the end of the 2024 season. Kansas will look to extend their conference streak to three games tomorrow.

"We did a great job of creating momentum early and then trusting our pitching and defense to finish it," said head coach Jennifer McFalls. "Conference games are always a grind, and I was proud of how we responded when BYU made a late push. This group is learning how to win in different ways, and that's what you need in Big 12 play."

How it Happened | vs. BYU

Blakely Barber earned the start in the circle for Kansas, recording her eighth start of the season.
Both teams were quiet in the first inning, as Kansas kept BYU off the board while going scoreless in its opening at-bats.
The Jayhawks found momentum in the second inning. Anna Soles singled to start the rally, followed by a September Flanagan double. Kadence Stafford drew a walk to load the bases before Bailey Amezcua ripped a shot to left field that cleared the bases and gave Kansas a 3-0 lead. Presley Limbaugh followed with an RBI single to score Amezcua from third, pushing the advantage to 4-0.
Barber continued to work efficiently in the circle, allowing her defense to make plays. Kansas closed the third inning with a flyout and two groundouts handled by the middle infield.
Neither team scored in the fourth, keeping Kansas in front 4-0 midway through the game.
Kansas added to its lead in the fifth when Hailey Cripe launched a home run to deep left-center to make it 5-0, her 11th on the season. Soles singled to keep the inning alive, and Madi Hays entered as a pinch runner. Heads-up baserunning from Hays allowed her to score from first on an failed BYU pickoff attempt that skipped into right field, extending the lead to 6-0.
After two consecutive walks, Lizzy Ludwig entered in relief for Barber, who allowed just three hits across four innings of work.
BYU threatened in the bottom of the sixth, scoring twice to cut the deficit to 6-2. The Kansas defense stayed composed as Cripe handled two groundouts and Ludwig recorded a strikeout to end the inning.
In the top of the seventh, Cripe tripled making that two triples on the season and Flanagan followed with a walk, but Kansas was unable to add insurance runs.
BYU made things interesting in the bottom half with a double and a single that brought two runs across, trimming the lead to 6-4. Lila Partridge entered in relief and, with two outs, secured the final out to seal the 6-4 win for Kansas.

PITCHERS OF RECORD
Win: Blakely Barber (6-1)
Final line: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 0 SO
Loss: Gianna Mares (5-7)
Final line: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 7 BB, 6 SO