photo by: AP Photo/Doug Murray

Kansas pitcher Kaelee Washington (17) throws the ball from the circle during an NCAA softball game against Missouri State on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Boca Raton, Fla.

The Kansas softball team was competitive in all of five of its games at Florida Atlantic’s season-opening Paradise Classic, but ended up losing four of the five by a combined seven runs as it struggled to come through in key moments against high-level opponents.

“We had opportunities throughout the weekend and put ourselves in positions to score,” KU coach Jennifer McFalls said in a press release on Saturday. “Now, we just need to capitalize on those moments, stay tough, and find ways to finish innings on both offense and defense.”

The Jayhawks’ lone victory was in by far the least contested game, an 8-0 takedown of Missouri State on Friday afternoon in which freshman Kaelee Washington got through four innings with three hits allowed, two strikeouts and two walks and then junior Lizzy Ludwig finished off the shutout. Junior shortstop Hailey Cripe went 3-for-4 with four RBIs in her best showing of the weekend.

Otherwise, KU put in a rather inconsistent performance overall. The Jayhawks battled back admirably from an early 4-1 deficit in the season opener against No. 25 Clemson and had runners on second and third with one out in the seventh, down just one run. However, Olivia Bruno struck out looking on three pitches and Campbell Bagshaw lined out to second base.

Again the Jayhawks found their way out of a three-run hole against host FAU, aided by a fifth-inning error and RBI double by Presley Limbaugh, but even as Washington kept the Owls at bay, KU couldn’t find a tying run, even after Madi Hays stole second with no one out in the seventh inning.

KU had the opposite experience in its first of two Friday games (before the victory over Missouri State) when it went ahead of Wisconsin 3-1 on the first career RBI by freshman outfielder Ava Wallace. The Jayhawks stayed in front until pitcher Katie Brooks gave up a pinch-hit grand slam to the Badgers’ Eden Dempsey in what became a 6-3 loss.

Finally, they wrapped up the weekend early Saturday morning with a back-and-forth battle with Ole Miss that saw KU go ahead twice, on a home run by Bruno and later a bunt single by Emma Tatum. Immediately after Tatum’s go-ahead RBI in the fourth inning, though, Brooks put two runners on, and Washington could only get one out before allowing two walks and two singles.

Ludwig induced a double play to get the Jayhawks out of the inning down 5-3. They didn’t get anything going on offense in the fifth, but managed to load the bases in the sixth before Bagshaw grounded out.

KU finished the weekend 1-4 with three more weekend tournaments and then a Big 12 road series to go before it gets to debut at Arrocha Ballpark. Next up, the Jayhawks will face Oregon State and Saint Mary’s in Long Beach, California, on Thursday.

Through five games, Limbaugh and Cripe lead the way on offense, as Limbaugh is already 5-for-13 with three doubles and Cripe 4-for-11 with a team-high five RBIs. Wallace made an early impression with four singles in seven tries in her first collegiate competition, as did fellow freshman Washington, a Topeka native who allowed just one run in 9 1/3 innings of action.

photo by: AP Photo/Doug Murray

Kansas outfielder Ava Wallace (7) celebrates scoring a run with Kansas head coach Jennifer McFalls during an NCAA softball game against Missouri State on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Boca Raton, Fla.

photo by: AP Photo/Doug Murray

Kansas outfielder Madi Hays (36) yells and reacts at home plate during an NCAA softball game against Missouri State on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Boca Raton, Fla.

photo by: AP Photo/Doug Murray

Kansas infielder Emma Tatum (20) claps her hands during an NCAA softball game against Missouri State on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Boca Raton, Fla.

photo by: AP Photo/Doug Murray

Kansas infielder Emma Tatum (20) talks with Kansas outfielder Presley Limbaugh (4) at home plate during an NCAA softball game against Missouri State on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Boca Raton, Fla.

photo by: AP Photo/Doug Murray

Kansas infielder Hailey Cripe (41) bunts during an NCAA softball game against Missouri State on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Boca Raton, Fla.

photo by: AP Photo/Doug Murray

Kansas catcher Natalie Marshall (18) bats during an NCAA softball game against Missouri State on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Boca Raton, Fla.

photo by: AP Photo/Doug Murray

Kansas catcher Natalie Marshall (18) throws the ball during an NCAA softball game against Missouri State on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Boca Raton, Fla.

photo by: AP Photo/Doug Murray

Kansas infielder September Flanagan (12) bats during an NCAA softball game against Missouri State on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Boca Raton, Fla.

photo by: AP Photo/Doug Murray

Kansas outfielder Ava Wallace (7) bats during an NCAA softball game against Missouri State on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Boca Raton, Fla.

photo by: AP Photo/Doug Murray

Kansas infielder Campbell Bagshaw (6) bats during an NCAA softball game against Missouri State on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Boca Raton, Fla.