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

KU sophomore Anna Soles squares up to bunt against UCF on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at Arrocha Ballpark in Lawrence, Kansas.

The Kansas softball team took a step forward during the Jayhawks’ second straight weekend event at South Florida, winning four out of five games — headlined by a 7-2 victory over the host Bulls to avenge their previous loss — to improve to 7-4 on the young season.

KU beat Indiana State convincingly on Thursday, but lost to Boston College after allowing three sixth-inning runs. However, the Jayhawks bounced back against USF and then run-ruled DePaul and Yale on Saturday morning.

“I’m really proud of our team, our chemistry, energy, and the fight they’ve shown all week,” KU coach Jennifer McFalls said in a press release. “Our offense has been exceptional, scoring 23 runs over two games (on Saturday), which not only fueled the team but also allowed our pitchers to settle in and perform at their best.

“On the mound, our pitchers were strong and competitive, closing out games and keeping the team in control. At the end of the day, it’s been a true team effort, and I’m proud of the way everyone stayed ready and supported each other whenever their number was called.”

As McFalls’ remarks suggest, a variety of Jayhawks chipped in throughout the Fonseca Memorial Tournament.

Against Indiana State, Anna Soles made her first (and to this point only) pitching appearance and allowed just one unearned run in three innings. In the meantime, KU jumped ahead with 10 runs in the first two frames, including a pair of three-run home runs by Aynslee Linduff and September Flanagan in the second inning. The Sycamores got a few back over the next several innings to stave off the run rule, but KU won 10-4.

The Boston College game featured a grim conclusion for the Jayhawks. After Kaelee Washington allowed one run on two hits and three walks in five innings, Chloe Barber took over in the sixth with a one-run lead. Sammy Horn drew a full-count walk and then a throwing error on Janis Espinoza’s sacrifice bunt attempt allowed both Horn and Espinoza to come all the way around to score. The Eagles added one more run on a sacrifice fly and KU went down in order in the seventh to lose 4-2.

Barber and Washington teamed up again the following day against USF. KU took a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Ella Boyer and two-RBI single by Presley Limbaugh, but Alex Wilkes’ solo homer cut the margin to one run. Barber held the line in the fifth, and Washington escaped a bases-loaded situation in the sixth-inning before Emma Tatum added an insurance run and Hailey Cripe broke open the game with a three-run home run.

DePaul and Yale never put up much resistance in KU’s Valentine’s Day doubleheader. Kennedy Diggs pitched five shutout innings against the Blue Demons, while Soles tripled and homered and she and Boyer combined to drive in eight of the Jayhawks’ 12 runs.

The Yale game, an 11-0 win, featured three pitchers, including Eudora native Sam Claire with one shutout inning in her collegiate debut. Cripe had three hits and Limbaugh and Campbell Bagshaw tallied two apiece.

The Jayhawks will remain in Florida for their third and final weekend there, this time at the Joan Joyce Classic at Florida Atlantic. They will face the Owls on Thursday and play four additional games between Friday and Saturday.