photo by: Carson Field/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas shortstop Hailey Cripe fields a ball against Texas Tech in the Big 12 tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Oklahoma City.

In its first meeting with Kansas this season, the Texas Tech softball team displayed the talent that had allowed it to win the Big 12 by a five-game margin.

The Red Raiders knocked KU out of the Big 12 tournament with a 14-0 run-rule victory on Friday afternoon in the semifinal round at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.

Tech lefty Kaitlyn Terry pitched a five-inning shutout with nine strikeouts in which designated player September Flanagan provided KU’s only two hits. Meanwhile, the Red Raiders hit four home runs and did damage against each of the four Jayhawk pitchers who entered the circle.

KU accomplished little against Terry in the first inning. Then the Jayhawks started Eudora native Sam Claire in the circle. She had not allowed a run on the year but had also pitched just 4 1/3 innings. She walked two Red Raiders early and then allowed an opposite-field home run to designated player Jasmyn Burns.

KU’s Presley Limbaugh made a tough catch against the wall to prevent extra bases for Taylor Pannell at the start of the second inning. A first-pitch single by Mihyia Davis gave Tech runners at the corners with two outs, but Mia Williams flied out to end the frame.

Flanagan earned KU’s first hit on a high-arcing ball that deflected off the glove of shortstop Hailey Toney. But Kadence Stafford popped out in foul territory and Limbaugh and Anna Soles struck out.

Tech’s Jackie Lis hit a solo home run to left field to lead off the bottom of the third inning, which prompted a pitching change to Chloe Barber. That did not improve matters for the Jayhawks. Terry helped her own cause with a single, Lauren Allred fought back in the count to earn a walk and then Pannell made even better contact than in her first at-bat for another three-run home run that put the Red Raiders ahead 7-0.

Desirae Spearman then swung on a 3-0 pitch in the next at-bat and sent it to virtually the same place to put KU in run-rule territory and chase Barber in favor of Kennedy Diggs, who had pitched once in the prior two months.

The Red Raiders put two runners on before Diggs got Lis to ground out to shortstop. Terry then retired three Jayhawks in order in the fourth.

Burns singled off the leg of Diggs. Running for Burns, Makayla Garcia reached second base on a wild pitch, and then Terry drove her in. Tech continued to add on, as Allred’s infield single and a throwing error on a ground ball hit by Pannell made it 10-0.

Kaelee Washington inherited runners at the corners with no one out, and Spearman promptly hit an RBI single. Davis put two more runs on the board with a one-out triple, and then Williams doubled to extend the lead further.

KU generated its only legitimate scoring threat of the game when Aynslee Linduff got hit by a pitch and Flanagan singled again to advance pinch runner Bailey Weber to third. But Terry struck out Stafford on a full count and Limbaugh on three pitches to conclude the game

Now 35-19, the Jayhawks will learn their NCAA regional assignment — set to be the first under head coach Jennifer McFalls — in the selection show at 6 p.m. on Sunday.

photo by: Carson Field/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas players high-five each other after losing to Texas Tech in the Big 12 tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Oklahoma City.

photo by: Carson Field/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas center fielder Presley Limbaugh walks to the dugout after striking out against Texas Tech in the Big 12 tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Oklahoma City.

photo by: Carson Field/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas left fielder Ava Wallace prepares for an at-bat against Texas Tech in the Big 12 tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Oklahoma City.

photo by: Carson Field/Special to the Journal-World

Texas Tech’s Mihyia Davis slides into third base against Kansas in the Big 12 tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Oklahoma City.

photo by: Carson Field/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas pitcher Kaelee Washington pitches against Texas Tech in the Big 12 tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Oklahoma City.

photo by: Carson Field/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas catcher Ella Boyer tries to tag out Texas Tech’s Kaitlyn Terry against Texas Tech in the Big 12 tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Oklahoma City.

photo by: Carson Field/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas pitcher Kennedy Diggs pitches against Texas Tech in the Big 12 tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Oklahoma City.

photo by: Carson Field/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas pitcher Chloe Barber reacts after giving up a home run against Texas Tech in the Big 12 tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Oklahoma City.

photo by: Carson Field/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas pitcher Samantha Claire reacts after giving up a home run against Texas Tech in the Big 12 tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Oklahoma City.

photo by: Carson Field/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas third baseman Kadence Stafford watches as Texas Tech’s Logan Halleman slides into third base in the Big 12 tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Oklahoma City.

photo by: Carson Field/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas left fielder Ava Wallace walks to the dugout after striking out against Texas Tech in the Big 12 tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Oklahoma City.

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