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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740798940745.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Kansas Athletics
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NORMAN, Okla. &ndash;&nbsp;Kansas softball showcased its strength on both sides of the ball on the first day of the Oklahoma Tournament, extending its winning streak to six games with a dominant 10-2 run-rule victory over Marshall. &nbsp; &nbsp;The Jayhawks' offense came alive late against Marshall, while&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/lizzy-ludwig/6881" rel="smarttag" rev="6881" data-airgap-id="75">Lizzy Ludwig</a></dfn>&nbsp;delivered a standout performance in the circle, allowing just three hits. In their matchup against No. 1 Oklahoma, Kansas held its own early, keeping the game scoreless through two innings and showing resilience at the plate. Freshman&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/kaelee-washington/15853" rel="smarttag" rev="15853" data-airgap-id="76">Kaelee Washington</a></dfn>&nbsp;impressed in the circle, and the Jayhawks continued to fight, but the Sooners pulled away late to take a 9-1 win in six innings. &nbsp; Game One Kansas extended its winning streak to six games with a strong performance against Marshall in its opening matchup of the Oklahoma Tournament. The Jayhawks' defense set the tone early, shutting down Marshall in the first inning.&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/lizzy-ludwig/6881" rel="smarttag" rev="6881" data-airgap-id="77">Lizzy Ludwig</a></dfn>&nbsp;commanded the circle for Kansas, delivering back-to-back strikeouts in the first inning to quickly retire the side and send the Jayhawks to the plate. Neither team managed to score, sending the game into the second inning tied at zero. &nbsp; "I was just really proud of the way we competed in that first game," head coach&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/coaches/jennifer-mcfalls/526" rel="smarttag" rev="526" data-airgap-id="78">Jennifer McFalls</a></dfn>&nbsp;said. "We had a great energy from the whole team. It was, in my opinion, one of the best team wins for this season so far, because we got the offense, we got the defense, and the pitching - it just felt like a real complete team and a complete game." Marshall put pressure on Kansas in the top of the second, plating two runs to take an early lead. The Jayhawks struggled offensively in the second inning, recording just one hit before heading into the third. Kansas found its rhythm in the third inning when&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/september-flanagan/6890" rel="smarttag" rev="6890" data-airgap-id="79">September Flanagan</a></dfn>&nbsp;launched a home run to right center, putting the Jayhawks on the board. Trailing 2-1, Kansas quickly retired the Marshall batters to keep the momentum. The Jayhawks' offense came alive in the bottom of the fourth, sending seven batters to the plate and pushing across two runs to take their first lead of the day at 3-2. Kansas continued to stifle Marshall's offense, holding the Herd off the bases for four consecutive innings while adding to its own lead. In the fifth,&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/anna-soles/6934" rel="smarttag" rev="6934" data-airgap-id="80">Anna Soles</a></dfn>&nbsp;drove in a run to extend Kansas' lead to 4-2. With disciplined base running, Flanagan drew a walk, allowing&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/olivia-bruno/6949" rel="smarttag" rev="6949" data-airgap-id="81">Olivia Bruno</a></dfn>&nbsp;to cross the plate and add another run. The Jayhawks sealed a run-rule victory over Marshall in the sixth after&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/hailey-cripe/6977" rel="smarttag" rev="6977" data-airgap-id="82">Hailey Cripe's</a></dfn>&nbsp;RBI single made it 7-2. With two runners on,&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/emma-tatum/6927" rel="smarttag" rev="6927" data-airgap-id="83">Emma Tatum</a></dfn>&nbsp;stepped up, battled through the at-bat, and crushed a ball to right field, bringing both runners home before scoring herself. Her three-run play secured a dominant 10-2 victory for Kansas. Pitchers of Record Win:&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/lizzy-ludwig/6881" rel="smarttag" rev="6881" data-airgap-id="84">Lizzy Ludwig</a></dfn>&nbsp; Line: 6.0 IP, 3&nbsp;H, 2 R, 2&nbsp;BB, 3&nbsp;SO Loss: Bub Ferigna&nbsp; Line: 2.0 IP,&nbsp; 4 H, 4&nbsp; R, 4&nbsp;BB, 1&nbsp;SO Game Two &nbsp;Kansas faced off against former Big 12 foe Oklahoma in game two of the Oklahoma Tournament. Both teams battled in a defensive showdown where neither team scored through two innings. Freshman&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/kaelee-washington/15853" rel="smarttag" rev="15853" data-airgap-id="85">Kaelee Washington</a></dfn>&nbsp;made her presence known for the Sooners, recording three strikeouts through the first three innings. With strong defense behind her, Oklahoma held the Jayhawks scoreless through the early frames. &nbsp; The Sooners were able to get across home plate first, with four runs in one inning. However, after the Kansas defense retired three outs, they moved into the top of the fourth. &nbsp; <dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/hailey-cripe/6977" rel="smarttag" rev="6977" data-airgap-id="86">Hailey Cripe</a></dfn>&nbsp;sparked the Jayhawks' offense with a single to shortstop, reaching base before advancing on a wild pitch with freshman&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/ava-wallace/15856" rel="smarttag" rev="15856" data-airgap-id="87">Ava Wallace</a></dfn>&nbsp;at the plate. Wallace battled through a long at-bat before delivering a clutch hit to right field, driving Cripe home and cutting the Jayhawks' deficit to three. &nbsp; Oklahoma extended their lead significantly with four more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. In response, Kansas made a pitching change, bringing in&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/katie-brooks/6906" rel="smarttag" rev="6906" data-airgap-id="88">Katie Brooks</a></dfn>&nbsp;to the circle to halt the Sooners' momentum. Brooks worked to retire the runners and give the Jayhawks another opportunity at the plate as they looked to chip away at an 8-1 deficit. "You're playing the No. 1 team in the country, they know how to win," McFalls said. "They're going to score runs. We just have to realize that we're never out of it, and we can't quit. We've got to get some timely hits when we have those runners on base, especially against teams like OU." In the fifth, Kansas threatened with runners in scoring position and one out, but Oklahoma's defense turned back-to-back outs to hold them off. The Jayhawks also held the OU offense off not allowing any runs to take them to the sixth inning. &nbsp; Ultimately, Kansas couldn't generate more offense, while Oklahoma added another run to secure a 9-1 victory in six innings. Pitchers of Record Win: Sam Landry&nbsp; Line: 5.1 IP, 6&nbsp;H, 1 R, 1&nbsp;BB, 8 SO Loss:&nbsp;<dfn></dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/kaelee-washington/15853" rel="smarttag" rev="15853" data-airgap-id="89">Kaelee Washington</a> Line: 3.0 IP,&nbsp; 7&nbsp;H, 6&nbsp;R, 1 BB, 3 SO &nbsp; Notables
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<li>Kansas earned its first run-rule victory of the season against Marshall. The Jayhawks' last run-rule win came on April 17, 2024, when they defeated Missouri State 9-0 in six innings.</li>
<li>Junior&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/emma-tatum/6927" rel="smarttag" rev="6927" data-airgap-id="90">Emma Tatum</a></dfn>&nbsp;hit her first career home run for Kansas against Marshall, a two-run shot.</li>
<li>Junior&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/hailey-cripe/6977" rel="smarttag" rev="6977" data-airgap-id="91">Hailey Cripe</a></dfn>&nbsp;recorded a career-high four hits against Marshall, surpassing her previous season best of three hits against South Florida on Feb. 12, 2024.</li>
<li>The Jayhawks' 10-run performance against Marshall marked their highest-scoring game of the 2025 season.</li>
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🥎 Jayhawks run-rule Marshall, battle hard against No. 1 Oklahoma