photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

KU junior Hailey Cripe lines her barrel up to hit her second home run of the game against Kansas City on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at Arrocha Ballpark in Lawrence.

Shortstop Hailey Cripe hit two home runs and pitchers Katie Brooks and Kaelee Washington combined for a shutout as the Kansas softball team made easy work of Kansas City on Wednesday night at Arrocha Ballpark.

Center fielder Presley Limbaugh’s two-out single in the fifth inning activated the run rule and gave KU an 8-0 win, putting the Jayhawks back above .500 at 16-15 on the season.

“This midweek games are important to us,” head coach Jennifer McFalls said. “We let one of these get away from us last year against UMKC late in the season, and they come back to haunt you if you don’t take care of business.”

Indeed, KU’s 4-1 home loss to the Roos last April 24 came in the midst of a 10-game losing streak that effectively sank the Jayhawks’ tournament hopes.

“Last year when we went to Coach’s house for postseason (selection) and we didn’t get in, that was about the only loss that we looked at and was like, ‘We needed that win,'” Cripe said. “That one was pretty bad for us to take last year. I think coming into this year, returners were ready to go and pumped for this game.”

The Jayhawks didn’t take long to strike in the first inning.

“I think we understood what was at stake and I think we went and capitalized in every moment that we could,” Cripe said.

A one-out double to the wall in left field by Aynslee Linduff prompted the Roos to visit pitcher Hannah Burks in the circle, only for Cripe to drill a home run, her fifth of the year, off the camera stand in center field and give KU an early 2-0 advantage.

“Honestly, the pitch before, I smiled at our first-base coach because it was right down the middle, and I was like ‘Man, I missed it,'” Cripe said. “But then she threw it again at the same spot and I was ready to go the second time.”

The Jayhawks got two additional runners aboard with two outs, but Sara Roszak grounded out to shortstop to end the early threat.

Kansas City (4-25) nearly scored via small ball after a pair of groundouts moved Katie Noble to third base, but after a passed ball, Brooks was able to cover home plate and tag Noble out as she tried to score.

Cripe’s second at-bat began erratically for Burks as she bounced a pitch behind the Royal Center, Indiana, native. Three pitches later, Cripe homered again, this time to left-center field.

Roszak continued KU’s offensive with a two-out no-doubter of her own over the left-field wall that scored September Flanagan and made it 5-0 at the conclusion of the third inning.

The freshman Washington replaced Brooks after the senior’s three scoreless innings. She conceded a four-pitch walk to Sabrina Rogers, and pinch runner Taylor Kvale made it to third with one out before Noble lined out and Leilani Bustamante grounded out, both to the third baseman Flanagan.

Riley Bebb fared better than Burks had for the Roos in the circle and got through the fourth inning unscathed.

KU introduced a pair of pinch-hitters to open the fifth inning. Karsen Griggs singled up the middle, but Anna Soles flew out. Griggs stole second, then advanced to third on a pitch that both walked Roszak and got away from catcher Mary Cunningham; Emma Tatum ran for Roszak and stole second herself.

That set the table for catcher Natalie Marshall, a defensive replacement earlier in the game, who drove in both runners with a double down the left-field line.

“Nat coming in, she’s been swinging the bat well for us all week long,” McFalls said. “It was a great opportunity to get her and Karsen back in the game. I was hoping to get a few others, but unfortunately it kind of ended a little sooner than I was hoping. But I’m certainly not upset about finishing the game out in five innings.”

Washington and Brooks only allowed two hits and one walk combined.

“We’ve got a great defense behind our pitching staff right now, and I just think (we need) every chance we got to remind them that they’re still good,” McFalls said, “gaining that confidence especially, again, heading into a tough weekend with Arizona State.”

The Jayhawks will begin a three-game road series at ASU on Friday night. The Sun Devils rank in the middle of the Big 12 with a 6-6 league record.

“We got to get all three sides of our game working at the same time, our offense, our defense and our pitching,” McFalls said. “And when we have that, like when we went to Mizzou (a 3-0 win on March 26), we were really good. And we just got to be solid, especially when it comes to conference play, going against a team like ASU this weekend.”

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

KU senior Katie Brooks throws the first pitch of the game against Kansas City on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at Arrocha Ballpark in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

KU junior Hailey Cripe rounds the bases after hitting a home run against Kansas City on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at Arrocha Ballpark in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

KU senior Katie Brooks tags out Kansas City baserunner Katie Noble after a passed ball during the game at Arrocha Ballpark in Lawrence, on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

KU junior Presley Limbaugh slides in safely while stealing second base against Kansas City on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at Arrocha Ballpark in Lawrence.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

KU sophomore September Flanagan celebrates with the dugout after reaching first base during the game against Kansas City at Arrocha Ballpark in Lawrence on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

KU sophomore September Flanagan slides into second safely on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at Arrocha Ballpark in Lawrence.

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