photo by: AP Photo/Doug Murray

Kansas's Bailey Amezcua during an NCAA softball game on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026 in Boca Raton, Fla.

The Kansas softball team opened its home slate in style over the weekend with a three-game sweep of Utah State at Arrocha Ballpark by a combined score of 39-3.

“I was really proud of the way our group came out ready to compete,” head coach Jennifer McFalls said in a press release after Saturday’s 14-0 win to complete the sweep. “We were aggressive at the plate, had great energy in the dugout and kept building momentum throughout the inning. When our offense gets going like that it takes pressure off everyone, and our pitchers did a great job staying composed and finishing the job.”

The Jayhawks improved to 18-7 in nonconference play entering Friday’s league opener at Houston. They did so in dominant fashion against a team that had come to Lawrence at 10-10 and had been 26-26 and 11-11 in the Mountain West last season.

In the first half of Friday’s doubleheader, KU’s first game in Lawrence after 21 in Florida and Arkansas and a midweek win in Wichita, the Jayhawks steadily built their lead with a series of solo home runs, one in each of the second, third and fourth innings. They then broke the game open with three additional homers in the span of a single inning: one from Anna Soles to chase USU’s starter and then two more from Hailey Cripe and Campbell Bagshaw, Bagshaw’s a two-run shot to make it 7-0.

KU pitcher Chloe Barber, who struck out 13 on the day to just two walks, allowed a lone run in the sixth inning of her complete game as the Jayhawks won 7-1.

Later on Friday, Blakely Barber was in the circle for a game that KU got done far more quickly. She allowed two runs in the first inning on an RBI single by Jasmin Ramirez and fielder’s choice by Alex Bunton. But the Jayhawks evened the score quickly with RBI singles by Soles and Cripe.

They then proceeded to score a combined 16 runs over the next three innings against a variety of Utah State pitchers and hasten the conclusion of an 18-2 win in five innings.

Freshman designated player Ella Boyer went 2-for-4 with four RBIs, including a three-run homer. Bagshaw drove in three runs of her own on a pair of singles, and catcher Bailey Amezcua hit a grand slam to conclude the scoring. Blakely Barber and Lila Partridge shut out the Aggies for the rest of the game.

On Saturday, KU strung together a dominant pitching performance from four separate pitchers as Kaelee Washington, Kennedy Diggs, Sam Claire and Lizzy Ludwig combined for a five-inning no-hitter. Claire allowed the only two walks.

Meanwhile, the Jayhawks’ offense was dominant again, this time from the start, as USU’s starter did not record an out in what became a 10-run first inning for KU. Ava Wallace and Aynslee Linduff hit home runs as part of the early scoring outburst. They each finished with three RBIs apiece as part of the 14-0 win.

KU will now head to Houston. First pitch for Friday night’s game at Cougar Softball Stadium is set for 6 p.m.