photo by: AP Photo/Colin E. Braley

Missouri's Kara Daly (19) is out at second base as Kansas shortstop Hailey Cripe (41) throws to first for a double play during an NCAA college softball game on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, in Lawrence.

After seeing its momentum cut short at midweek by a home loss to No. 15/16 Missouri on Wednesday, the Kansas softball team bounced back with its second straight Big 12 Conference sweep, this time at Houston.

It was the first time in 19 years that the Jayhawks had swept consecutive Big 12 series.

Against the Tigers, the Jayhawks didn’t get on the board until a two-run error with two outs in the bottom of the seventh brought them within one run; however, Taylor Pannell struck out Campbell Bagshaw to conclude the rally and get MU the victory in the battle of ranked teams.

But two days later, KU managed a successful comeback in its first meeting with Houston since 2010. In the sixth inning, sophomore Hailey Cripe hit her second of two home runs to score Lyric Moore and put the Jayhawks ahead 4-3, before turning a solo double play to help maintain the lead.

“Hailey Cripe, holy cow,” head coach Jennifer McFalls said in a press release that night. “She had a heck of a night tonight. I’m so proud of her, not just offensively, but defensively. That double play was a game changer too. Just overall, really proud of our fight tonight.”

The Jayhawks continued their momentum into Saturday with one of their best offensive showings of the season in an 11-4 victory, as Savanna DesRochers and Jaeden Murphy each hit a grand slam, with Murphy’s coming in just her second career at-bat.

“She’s a young kid that swings it every day in practice, and I was really proud to get her the opportunity to play today,” McFalls said, “She’s got some pop in her barrel, so that doesn’t really surprise me, but I’m so happy for her.”

The final win to complete the sweep relied more on KU’s consistent pitching, as a one-run complete game by Kasey Hamilton and a late double play from Ashlyn Anderson with the bases loaded helped the Jayhawks escape Houston with a 2-1 result.

“We came out today hoping for another sweep,” Hamilton said in a release. “Trusting my defense today was the biggest thing and they came up with some huge plays, especially Ashlyn there at the end. It was a good day.”

KU improved to 22-8-1 overall and 7-2 in Big 12 play, which puts it in a tie for third in this year’s 10-team conference. The Jayhawks were expected to play at Kansas City on Tuesday but canceled the matchup Monday morning due to expected weather. KU will instead next host possibly the nation’s foremost college softball program, Oklahoma, for another three-game series beginning Friday.

Baseball drops doubleheader, series to UCF

A 13-3 home victory on Friday for the KU baseball team gave way to a pair of losses the following day as the UCF pitching staff limited the Jayhawks to three combined runs in two games.

Michael Brooks drove in a pair in the top half of Saturday’s doubleheader against the Knights, but a pair of relievers gave up two runs apiece to nullify freshman Dominic Voegele’s strong start in what became a 6-2 loss.

Then, the Jayhawks churned through seven pitchers as the Knights used just two to hold KU to four hits in another defeat, this time by a score of 4-1.

KU fell to 12-10 and 4-5 in Big 12 play and, having had its own midweek game canceled, will travel to face BYU Thursday.

Lai concludes distinguished campaign

KU freshman diver Shiyun Lai was named an All-American honorable mention after finishing in sixth place in the consolation finals for both the 1- and 3-meter diving events at the NCAA championships in Georgia.

Tennis can’t hold on at Baylor

The Jayhawks had a chance for a ranked win in Waco, Texas, after securing a doubles point and a pair of singles victories, but the 30th-ranked Bears rallied for a 4-3 win on Sunday. KU’s third loss in four tries dropped it to 5-10 on the season with a matchup against Saint Louis awaiting the Jayhawks back in Lawrence on Thursday morning.