LAWRENCE, Kan. – Junior September Flanagan hit a single down the right field line scoring junior Kadence Stafford in the bottom of the seventh inning to give No. 23 Kansas a 5-4 win against Baylor Saturday afternoon at Arrocha Ballpark.
The win marked the third one-run game of the series as the Jayhawks claimed two of three from the Bears to improve to 29-12 overall and 10-5 in Big 12 play. Baylor dropped to 24-18 (7-8). Kansas has now claimed five-consecutive Big 12, and six overall, series in 2026.
“I think this was all about a team effort today,” Kansas head coach Jennifer McFalls said. “We have a lot of respect for Baylor. They never go away. Every time we play them it’s tough competition. I was just proud of us for answering back every time. We were great on defense today. We shut them down with no errors, and we continue to see some freshmen step up in the circle. Lila Partridge did her job, Lizzy Ludwig came in and had a big inning for us. We just continue to believe in ourselves and find ways to push those runs across.”
With the game tied at 4-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh, KU freshman Ella Boyer and Stafford walked to start the bottom of the frame. Hailey Cripe then hit a single up the middle and Boyer was tagged out at home with Stafford advancing to third. Flanagan then pinch hit and made the most of her at bat with the game-winning RBI scoring Stafford.
How It Happened | vs Baylor
- Baylor took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second.
- In the bottom of the second, senior Hailey Cripe blasted her 13th home run of the season over the left field fence to make the score 2-1. Two batters later, Ava Wallace hit her second home run of the season over the center field fence to tie the contest at 2-2.
- Baylor retook the lead in the top of the third inning, 3-2.
- Kansas took its first lead of the game at 4-3 scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Ella Boyer started the inning with a walk and advanced to third on an Anna Soles single. Kadence Stafford was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Crites then hit an infield fly that was not caught. The runners advanced with Boyer scoring. On the next play, Campbell Bagshaw hit a sharp grounder to third and after two run downs, Stafford would later score, sliding under the tag at home.
- Baylor tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the sixth.
- Boyer and Stafford walked to start the bottom of the seventh. Cripe then hit a single up the middle and Boyer was tagged out at home with Stafford advancing to third. Flanagan then pinch hit and made the most of her at bat with the game-winning RBI scoring Stafford.
PITCHERS OF RECORD
Win:Lila Partridge (4-3)
Final Line: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 SO
Loss: Peyton Tanner (7-6)
Final Line: 4.2 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 6 BB, 3 SO
Notables:
- Kansas added to its single-season home run record, currently at 71. The previous KU record was 60 homers in 2011.
- Kansas’ 29 wins are the most in the Jennifer McFalls era. The 29 victories surpass KU’s 2024 team which won 28 games.
- Kansas’ 10 Big 12 wins are the second most in the McFalls era. KU’s 2024 team won 11 league contests.
- With a single in the bottom of the first, Presley Limbaugh extended her hitting streak to five games. She has hit safely in eight of her last nine games.
- Ella Boyer walked three times. Boyers has walked 11 times in the last four games, including a season-high four walks in the first game of the Baylor series.
- In the bottom of the second inning, senior Hailey Cripe belted her 13th home run of the season and 34th over her career. Cripe is tied for seventh in the Big 12 Conference with 13 home runs this season.
- Sophomore Ava Wallace added a home run in the second inning, her second of the season and sixth of her career.
- Senior Aynslee Linduff hit her 12th double of the season in the bottom of the second inning. It was her first double since March 22 vs. Utah. Linduff is tied for eighth in the Big 12 in doubles this season.
- Kansas has now won five straight Big 12 series, and six series overall.
Up Next:
Kansas jumps out of Big 12 play and will host Missouri in the StorageMart Border Showdown on Wednesday, April 15. First pitch from Arrocha Ballpark is set for 5 p.m. CT. Fans can follow live stats, stream on ESPN+, or get updates via the Kansas Softball official X account.
