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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745806153524.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Kansas Athletics
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Lawrence, Kan.&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;Kansas softball earned a thrilling 3-2 victory over 23rd-ranked Oklahoma State on April 27, 2024, at Arrocha Ballpark. The win marks Kansas' first victory over a ranked opponent this season and its first since defeating 19th-ranked Baylor on March 17, 2024. The Jayhawks improved to 21-24 overall and 6-15 in conference play, while Oklahoma State fell to 29-17 overall and 10-9 in the Big 12. "I&nbsp; told them, going into the last inning, do not think about what you have not done. Think about what you can do right now," said head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/coaches/jennifer-mcfalls/526">Jennifer McFalls</a>. "<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/presley-limbaugh/6855">Presley Limbaugh</a>&nbsp;got it started with a base hit, and things started to fall our way. I am just really proud of our response on a Sunday. We could have shown up today and just quit, but we did not. This team does not quit because they have a lot of heart. Senior&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/katie-brooks/6906">Katie Brooks</a>&nbsp;started in the circle for the Jayhawks in their final series game against Oklahoma State. Kansas kept the Cowgirls off the scoreboard in the opening inning, highlighted by Brooks recording her 200th career strikeout to end the frame. Junior&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/hailey-cripe/6977">Hailey Cripe</a>&nbsp;recorded Kansas' first hit of the contest in the bottom of the first inning. Neither team was able to generate much offensively early, and the score remained tied at 0-0 entering the second inning. The Cowgirls struck first, scoring an RBI single to center field in the top of the second inning. However, the Kansas defense responded in the third, allowing just one hit and recording a double play. Kansas' offensive struggles continued through the second and third innings as the Jayhawks were unable to get on the board. Both defenses continued to dominate through the fifth inning, with neither team recording a hit and only two total base runners during that stretch. Kansas turned its second double play of the afternoon in the top of the sixth inning and carried that momentum into the bottom half of the frame. Junior&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/presley-limbaugh/6855">Presley Limbaugh</a>&nbsp;led off with a single to left field, followed by junior&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/aynslee-linduff/6968">Aynslee Linduff</a>&nbsp;reaching base after being hit by a pitch. Senior&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/olivia-bruno/6949">Olivia Bruno</a>&nbsp;then launched a three-run homer to left, giving Kansas its first lead of the game at 3-1 and marking her tenth home run of the season. The blast gave the Jayhawks a surge of momentum to help close out the game. "I was sitting on anything high because that's what she had been throwing me all game, and she kept getting me on it," said senior&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/olivia-bruno/6949">Olivia Bruno</a>. " After I got to a one-two count, I knew it was coming, so I stayed locked in and swung as hard as I could to give my team the lift they needed." Despite a late Oklahoma State run in the seventh, Brooks and the Kansas defense held strong to complete the upset. Kansas secured a 3-2 victory over the 23rd-ranked Cowgirls, earning its first home conference win of the season and first win over a top-25 opponent this year (previously No. 19 Baylor on March 17, 2024). Pitchers of Record: Win:&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/katie-brooks/6906">Katie Brooks</a>&nbsp;(7-8) Line: 7.0 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 3 BB, 2 SO Loss: Ruby Meylan (19-7) Line: 5.1 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 0 BB, 9 SO Up Next: Kansas softball will travel to Wichita, Kansas, on Wednesday, April 30, to take on Wichita State at 6 p.m. CT for its final away game of the regular season. Notables:
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<li>Brooks recorded her 200th career strikeout in the opening inning against Oklahoma State. She finished the contest with two strikeouts and now has 38 strikeouts on the season.</li>
<li><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/olivia-bruno/6949">Olivia Bruno</a>&nbsp;recorded her team-high 10th home run of the season with a deep shot to left field in the bottom of the sixth inning.</li>
<li>With the 3-2 win over 23rd-ranked Oklahoma State, Kansas secured its first home conference victory of the season and its first win over a top-25 opponent this year (previous was No. 19 Baylor on March 17, 2024).</li>
<li>Kansas earned its first regular-season victory over the Cowgirls since March 27, 2021. The most recent Kansas victory over Oklahoma State was in the Big 12 Tournament on May 11, 2023.&nbsp;</li>
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🥎 KU knocks off No. 23 Oklahoma State