photo by: Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas' softball team celebrates Anna Soles hitting the game-winning home run against Iowa State on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Lawrence.

Junior first baseman Anna Soles hit a walk-off home run in extra innings to deliver the Kansas softball team a 4-2 victory over Iowa State on senior day at Arrocha Ballpark.

The result on Saturday afternoon gave KU its sixth series win of Big 12 play as the Jayhawks improved to 32-16 overall, 13-8 in league games, and bolstered their NCAA Tournament candidacy.

“I love our fight,” KU coach Jennifer McFalls said in a press release. “We didn’t panic today. We got a lot out of a lot of different players. We were there at the end, staying composed and trusting our process … It couldn’t have happened to a better person than Anna Soles to step up and get the job done. I’m so happy for that young lady, but most importantly, I’m happy for our seniors.”

KU run-ruled ISU in the series opener as part of Friday’s doubleheader, but was unable to generate practically any offense in the loss that followed or for the first five innings of Saturday’s contest. Presley Limbaugh’s leadoff hit in the first inning on Saturday was the only hit KU could muster against Lauren Schurman until Hailey Cripe’s two-out RBI single in the sixth inning.

The Cyclones had posted a pair of early runs against Kaelee Washington to take a 2-0 lead, but Lizzy Ludwig kept them at bay. After Cripe put KU on the board, pinch runner Madi Hays reached second base on defensive indifference with Emma Tatum already on third. Campbell Bagshaw singled and Tatum scored, but Hays was thrown out heading for home, which kept the score at 2-2.

Despite allowing two baserunners in each frame, Lila Partridge held ISU in both the seventh and eighth innings. Ella Boyer drew a one-out walk in the eighth before Soles, facing a 1-0 count, clubbed Jaiden Ralston’s pitch over the fence in right-center field for her 11th home run of the year.

Partridge was the winning pitcher for the second time in the series. She had earned her first win with a five-inning complete game in the opener. Limbaugh went 3-for-3 in that game and Soles homered with three RBIs on the day as the Jayhawks used a pair of five-run innings to claim a dominant 12-2 win.

The second game on Friday looked dramatically different. ISU’s Jessie Clemons hit a two-RBI single in the fourth inning that made for the biggest offensive play of the day as the Cyclones built a four-run lead. (KU’s Kennedy Diggs, by the way, made her first appearance in the circle since March 7 and allowed one unearned run in 3 1/3 innings.)

Bagshaw homered in the sixth inning to give KU a glimmer of hope, but the Jayhawks went down in order from then on. Ralston pitched six innings with just the one earned run allowed on three hits in ISU’s 4-1 victory.

She was not as fortunate on Saturday as the Jayhawks got their revenge.

KU will now enter its final week of the regular season. The Jayhawks will host a potent Wichita State squad — which they previously beat 9-1 on March 4 — on Tuesday night. They then travel to face Oklahoma State for their last regular-season series; they are 3-17 against the Cowboys in McFalls’ tenure.

photo by: Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas’ Anna Soles celebrates hitting the game-winning home run against Iowa State on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas’ Lila Partridge pitches the ball against Iowa State on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas’ Aynslee Linduff celebrates with coach Kaitlyn Chiles at first base against Iowa State on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas’ Hailey Cripe throws the ball to third base against Iowa State on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas’ Anna Soles gets an out against Iowa State on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas’ softball team celebrates Anna Soles hitting the game-winning home run against Iowa State on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas’ softball team celebrates Anna Soles hitting the game-winning home run against Iowa State on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas’ Madi Hays gives a flower to Iowa State’s Tiana Poole for senior day before the start of the game against Iowa State on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas’ Kadence Stafford high-fives her teammates at the game against Iowa State on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas’ Aynslee Linduff hits the ball against Iowa State on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas’ Hailey Cripe gets an out against Iowa State on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas’ Madi Hays dives towards home plate against Iowa State on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas’ September Flanagan gets an out against Iowa State on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Lawrence.

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