Sophomore outfielder Aynslee Linduff throws the ball to Hailey Cripe against Big 12 opponent Oklahoma on March 28, 2024.
Sophomore outfielder Aynslee Linduff throws the ball to Hailey Cripe against Big 12 opponent Oklahoma on March 28, 2024.
Kansas softball broke its four game losing streak with a 7-1 victory over Iowa State in Ames, Iowa, on Friday evening. Sophomore infielder Hailey Cripe’s six RBIs helped propel the Jayhawks to their eighth conference victory of the season.
Sophomore pitcher Jaiden Ralston took the mound for the Cyclones and was dominant for the first portion of the game. The Cyclones retired the first three batters.
In the bottom half of the inning, junior pitcher Katie Brooks marched out to the mound for her eleventh start of the season. Unlike the Jayhawks, the Cyclones came out swinging with junior outfielder Angelina Allen and senior infielder Alesia Ranches hitting back-to-back singles.
The Cyclones got on the board first after senior infielder Carli Spelhaug hit an RBI single to shortstop.
Through the top of the second, the Jayhawks remained hitless as a result of two strikeouts from Ralston.
Following a slow start on defense in the first inning, the Jayhawks appeared to be much more confident in the second inning, recording three straight outs. Although the Kansas defense looked confident, the offense still needed to find their stride. However, the Jayhawks once again remained hitless after the top of the third.
In the bottom of the third, the Jayhawks escaped the inning without allowing a run, despite Spelhaug hitting her second single of the evening.
In the top of the fourth, senior catcher Lyric Moore gave the Jayhawks their first hit of the evening with a lead-off single past second base. Despite the hot start to the inning, the next three Jayhawks recorded outs.
The Kansas defense remained strong through four innings, forcing the Cyclones to go three up, three down.
In the top of the fifth, the Jayhawks quickly found themselves with two outs. Although the Jayhawks quickly dug themselves into a hole, sophomore outfielder Presley Limbaugh helped dig them out with an RBI single up the middle.
Sophomore outfielder Aynslee Linduff followed Limbaugh’s lead by safely advancing to first on a single. The following at-bat, Ralston walked Moore, leaving the bases loaded for the Jayhawks.
After Ralston walked Moore, she was taken out of the game in favor of freshman pitcher Lauren Schurman. Unfortunately for the Cyclones, Schurman’s first pitch didn’t go as planned. Cripe crushed a grand slam over the left field wall and gave the Jayhawks their first lead of the evening.
Going into the bottom of the fifth, the Cyclones now faced a four-run deficit on the scoreboard. The Jayhawks quickly retired the side, only allowing one hit.
Schurman put together a stronger inning in the top of the sixth, holding the Jayhawks to one hit and zero runs.
The Cyclones opened the bottom of the sixth with a lead-off single from sophomore infielder Ashley Minor. However, the Jayhawks forced the next three batters to record outs.
In the top of the seventh, Linduff recorded her second hit of the evening with a single down the left field line. On the next at-bat, Moore did exactly as Linduff did and recorded her second hit of the game on a single.
Cripe continued her dominant stretch on offense by crushing a two RBI double to right center and increasing her RBI total to six on the day.
Going into the bottom of the seventh, the Jayhawks remained in control with a 7-1 lead over the Cyclones. The Jayhawks did not allow a single hit, as the first three Cyclones ended the game on three-straight fly outs.
The Jayhawks continue their series against the Cyclones on Saturday, the first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CT.
120 Years of Kansas Basketball
Retired Jerseys
It’s the coliseum that is home to Kansas basketball’s 13-straight titles, Coach, Player and Freshman of the Year. Video by Brandon Cotter/KANSAN
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