Wallace’s Walk-Off Leads Kansas Over Michigan in First Round of Norman Regional, 1-0

Friday, May 15

Norman, Okla.

5 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

36-19

Michigan

34-21

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Michigan	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
Kansas	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	6	0

Wallace’s Walk-Off Leads Kansas Over Michigan in First Round of Norman Regional, 1-0

5/15/2026 8:41:00 PM | Softball

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NORMAN, Okla. – Kansas sophomore Ava Wallace hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth inning as Kansas defeated Michigan, 1-0, in the first game of the Norman Regional at Love's Field on Friday evening.

Freshman Lila Partridge tossed a phenomenal game in the circle, pitching a complete game shutout with eight innings pitched. The Kansas defense shined behind Partridge, with several spectacular plays in the field to keep the Wolverines scoreless.

With the win, Kansas improves to 36-19 (14-10 Big 12) on the season and will advance to the 1-0 game to take on the Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT. Kansas's win over Michigan was the Jayhawks' first in an NCAA Tournament since defeating Indiana State 2-0 in 2015.

"That was a great defensive and pitching game for both sides," head coach Jennifer McFalls said. "Getting down to the wire, I was just so proud of this team, their grit and commitment to finishing the game out."

Michigan falls to 34-21 (11-13 Big Ten) and will face Binghamton in an elimination game on Saturday.

How It Happened | vs. Michigan

Freshman Lila Partridge got the start in the circle for the Jayhawks and shut down Michigan in the top of the first, working a 1-2-3 inning on just 10 pitches.
Michigan picked up their first two hits of the game in the top of the second off of back-to-back two-out singles, but Partridge was able to hold off the Wolverine threat to keep the game scoreless.
Partridge continued her gem in the circle in the top of the third, keeping Michigan off of the board once again.
Junior Kadence Stafford led the bottom of the third off for the Jayhawks with a single up the middle. After getting on base via a fielder's choice, senior Presley Limbaugh stole second base, giving Kansas a runner in scoring position with two outs. However, the Jayhawk bats couldn't come through, keeping the game scoreless going into the fourth inning.
In the top of the fourth, Partridge picked up her second strikeout of the game and worked around a two-out walk, retaining the 0-0 tie.
Partridge began the top of the fifth by striking out the first two Michigan batters. After a two-out single, Wallace made a catch while falling into the left field wall, robbing the Michigan batter of extra bases and ending the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, junior September Flanagan was hit by a pitch, and Limbaugh singled up the middle to give the Jayhawks runners on the first and second with two outs. However, Michigan was able to get out of the jam, striking out the next Kansas batter and keeping the score 0-0 headed into the sixth.
Partridge continued her dominance in the top of the sixth, holding Michigan scoreless for a sixth straight inning. Senior Hailey Cripe led off the bottom of the sixth by getting hit by a pitch, but the Jayhawks couldn't advance past first base, sending the game into the seventh still tied 0-0.
Seven pitches are all Partridge needed to get through the top of the seventh, working a three-up-three-down inning with two groundouts and a flyout.
In the bottom of the seventh, Wallace led the inning off with a single up the middle. Freshman Audri Youngblood pinch ran for Wallace, and Flanagan moved Youngblood to second on a sacrifice bunt, giving the Jayhawks a runner in scoring position with one out. After Stafford was hit by a pitch, Limbaugh moved the runners over with a groundout to the second baseman, putting the winning run on third base with two outs. Kansas couldn't get the run across, sending the game into extra innings in a scoreless tie.
Partridge kept her shutout intact in the eighth inning, throwing another scoreless frame and sending the Jayhawks up to bat with a chance to win the game.
Cripe led the Jayhawk half of the eighth inning off with a walk. Boyer then hit a double off the left-center field wall to put the winning run on third base with no outs. Two batters later, with one out, Wallace hit a line drive to left-center field that fell in, allowing the winning run to score and giving the Jayhawks a 1-0 extra-innings victory.

PITCHERS OF RECORD
Win: Lila Partridge (10-4)
Final Line: 8 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO
Loss: Gabby Ellis (13-8)
Final Line: 7.1 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 5 SO

Notables:

In the third inning, senior Presley Limbaugh stole second base, her team's 14th stolen base of the season.
Limbaugh picked up her team-leading 67th hit of the season with a single up the middle in the fifth inning.
Partridge's 8 innings pitched are the most in a single outing in her career.
The start was Partridge's sixth complete game and second complete game shutout of the season. The win was also Kansas' seventh shutout of the year.
Kansas picked up its second extra-innings win of the season and now sits at 2-2 in extra-innings games on the year.
Kansas has recorded 361 runs this season, which is the most in a KU single season, surpassing the 331 runs during the 2015 season.
Kansas has hit 95 doubles on the season, a program record, passing the 2001 team's record of 81.
Kansas has picked up a program record 343 RBIs, surpassing the previous record of 301, set in 2015.
Kansas has hit 81 home runs, passing the previous Kansas record of 60 from 2011.
Kansas' 36 wins this season are the most since the 2015 season (40-15).
Kansas finished the 2026 home slate with 13 wins at Arrocha Ballpark, marking the most in a season since 2016, when Kansas had 17 home wins.
Kansas finished the regular season with 14 Big 12 Conference wins, which are the most by the Jayhawks in Big 12 Conference history. KU's previous high was 11 league wins, set twice before (in 1997 and 2024).