<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744774365824.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Kansas Athletics
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LAWRENCE, Kan. &ndash;&nbsp;The Kansas softball team delivered a dominant performance against Missouri State, shutting out the Bears in an 8-0 victory. Senior&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/olivia-bruno/6949" rel="smarttag" rev="6949">Olivia Bruno</a></dfn>&nbsp;did it all for the Jayhawks&mdash;recording two hits, two RBIs and a home run at the plate, while pitching four scoreless innings with four strikeouts in the circle. Kansas improved to 18-20 on the season, while Missouri State fell to 13-28.&nbsp; "I think we're heading in the right direction, but there's still a lot of room for growth," said head coach&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/coaches/jennifer-mcfalls/526" rel="smarttag" rev="526">Jennifer McFalls</a></dfn>. "I truly believe this team has so much more potential, and we're continuing to work toward the level I know we're capable of reaching." Bruno got off to a strong start, tallying two strikeouts in the first inning and driving in Kansas' first run with an RBI single. The Jayhawk defense kept the momentum going in the second and third innings, limiting Missouri State to just one hit and no runs. In the bottom of the third inning, the Jayhawks got back on the scoreboard with a pair of RBI's from juniors&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/hailey-cripe/6977" rel="smarttag" rev="6977">Hailey Cripe</a></dfn>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/campbell-bagshaw/6868" rel="smarttag" rev="6868">Campbell Bagshaw</a></dfn>&nbsp;pushing the Kansas lead to 3-0 entering the fourth inning.&nbsp; In the fourth inning, the Jayhawks strong defensive performance continued to tell the story of the evening. Bruno recorded her 40th strikeout of the season and Kansas kept Missouri State off the scoreboard.&nbsp; Kansas had its most impactful offensive stand in the bottom of the fourth inning. Freshman&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/ava-wallace/15856" rel="smarttag" rev="15856">Ava Wallace</a></dfn>&nbsp;launched her third home run of the season to center field and junior&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/emma-tatum/6927" rel="smarttag" rev="6927">Emma Tatum</a></dfn>&nbsp;drove home sophomore Madi Hayes to extend Kansas' lead to five runs.&nbsp; Bruno finished off her impressive performance with a solo home run to center field in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Jayhawks would continue with the momentum and grabbed two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to end the game. The final score of the game was 8-0 in favor of Kansas.&nbsp; Pitchers of Record: Win:&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/olivia-bruno/6949" rel="smarttag" rev="6949">Olivia Bruno</a></dfn>&nbsp;(4-3) Line: 4.0 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 4 SO Loss: Makenzi Swick (2-10) Line: 2.1 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 0 SO Up Next The Kansas softball team is set to travel to Ames, Iowa, for a three-game conference series against Iowa State, April 17-19. The series begins Thursday at 4 p.m. CT. Notables
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<li>Kansas tallied their 150th RBI on the season with an RBI Sacrifice Fly from junior&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/hailey-cripe/6977" rel="smarttag" rev="6977">Hailey Cripe</a></dfn>&nbsp;in the bottom of the third inning.&nbsp;</li>
<li><dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/olivia-bruno/6949" rel="smarttag" rev="6949">Olivia Bruno</a></dfn>&nbsp;tossed four shutout innings and tallied four strikeouts, marking the third time this season she's held an opponent scoreless over at least four innings. Her other scoreless outings came against SIU (8.0 IP, 0 ER) and Arizona State (6.0 IP, 0 ER). Bruno has recorded 4+ strikeouts in seven games this season. Bruno also recorded her 40th strikeout of the season in the top of the fourth inning.</li>
<li><dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/ava-wallace/15856" rel="smarttag" rev="15856">Ava Wallace</a></dfn>&nbsp;hit her third home run of the season in the bottom of the fourth inning.</li>
<li>Tatum moves to third on the team in RBIs (16) after an RBI in the bottom of the fourth inning.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Kansas earned its sixth shutout of the season with an 8-0 victory over Missouri State, the second time this season shutting out the Bears. The Jayhawks' previous shutouts came against Missouri State (8-0), East Texas A&amp;M (23-0), Mizzou (3-0), Kansas City (8-0) and Arizona State (8-0).</li>
<li>The win gave Kansas its sixth run-rule victory of the season.</li>
<li>8 different Jayhawks scored a run in Kansas' 8-0 win.</li>
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🥎 KU dominates Missouri State in shutout victory