Jayhawks Claim Victory Over Baylor to Conclude 20-Game Road Trip

Boca Raton, Fla. — The Kansas Jayhawks’ grueling 20-game road trip came to a successful conclusion Sunday, with a commanding 12-2 victory over Baylor in six innings. The win marked a significant triumph as the Jayhawks claimed their first conference series of the season.

Junior second baseman Emma Tatum played a pivotal role, going 2-for-5 with a home run during the fourth inning that helped solidify KU’s lead. She also contributed a bases-clearing double in the sixth, pushing the Jayhawks into run-rule territory.

On the mound, pitchers Lizzy Ludwig, Katie Brooks, and Kennedy Diggs displayed impressive skill, allowing only two runs while stranding 11 Baylor players on base. Brooks notably escaped a bases-loaded jam in the third inning with back-to-back strikeouts.

Shortstop Hailey Cripe and right fielder Aynslee Linduff added two hits each to the Jayhawks’ strong offensive performance. With the win, Kansas improved to 12-8 overall, having previously split two tight games against Baylor over the weekend.

“Overall, it was a great team performance,” said KU coach Jennifer McFalls in a press release. “Sundays are tough, and Day 3 is hard — it’s all about mental toughness. From the start of the game, I felt like we had a different mindset today. It’s huge to get that first conference series win, especially against a good Baylor team. This victory gives us confidence as we move forward.”

Despite the impressive victory on Sunday, the Jayhawks nearly swept the series. They secured a 2-1 lead on Friday, but a critical error at third base followed by a leadoff home run from Baylor’s Shaylon Govan in the seventh inning led to a walk-off loss.

In the tight match on Saturday, Olivia Bruno shone as she pitched 6 2/3 innings and contributed a two-run home run in the first inning. After leading 3-1, Kansas faced a serious threat in the seventh, with Bruno issuing three walks. Ludwig entered in relief and managed to close out the game despite giving up a run.

“We didn’t get the hits we were looking for, but we jumped on it early, which was exactly what we challenged them to do,” McFalls said after Saturday’s game. “It was a team effort, and everyone stepped up when we needed them.”

Looking ahead, the Jayhawks will briefly step away from Big 12 action, hosting Wichita State at Arrocha Ballpark on Wednesday at 5 p.m. They will also welcome Omaha for a doubleheader on Friday and Saturday, seeking to build momentum from their recent success.