A series of ill-timed defensive errors in the middle innings sank the Kansas softball team in Thursday’s series opener at Arrocha Ballpark, as the Jayhawks fell 8-6 to BYU.
“Routine outs that we make every day in practice — mentally, physically, just didn’t execute in those situations,” KU coach Jennifer McFalls said. “(We) let a little pressure situations get to us and eat us up tonight.”
KU (27-22-1), which committed five errors in total after averaging fewer than one per game the rest of the season, still managed to put a scare in the visitors in the final inning, stringing together a pair of walks and an error with two outs to score once, and then bringing Aynslee Linduff to the plate as the potential winning run. However, her hard-hit line drive went right to first baseman Maddie Udall.
“Aynslee had us a big two-run at-bat in her previous at-bat,” McFalls said, “and here we are right back there, at the seventh inning, with her up and she smokes a ball down the line, and they make the play. The bottom line is they made the plays tonight on defense and we didn’t.”
The Jayhawks outhit the Cougars 10-7, with Linduff, Presley Limbaugh and Campbell Bagshaw managing multi-hit games, but those performances weren’t enough. Huntyr Ava had three RBIs for BYU (28-22).
KU had led by three runs after the first inning, after Limbaugh and Linduff each stretched softly hit balls into doubles on the Jayhawks’ first two at-bats of the game, although Limbaugh only made it to third after Linduff popped a ball over the outstretched glove of BYU shortstop Ailana Agbayani. Lyric Moore was then the beneficiary of an error that allowed her to load the bases.
After Hailey Cripe grounded into a fielder’s choice, Olivia Bruno drove one all the way to the wall in center, but Violet Zavodnik made the grab to hold KU to a sacrifice fly — at least initially. Bagshaw delivered on a 3-1 count, lofting the ball over Zavodnik for a two-out two-RBI single to put the Jayhawks up 3-0.
BYU got one back on an RBI double into the gap by Udall, but squandered a pair of runners on base when Limbaugh charged in to catch a fly ball from Maddie Bejarano and then found Sara Roszak for a double play at second base.
Another double play, this time 3-6, briefly derailed the Cougars after Kasey Hamilton walked consecutive batters to open the third inning. But BYU cut its deficit in half on a single up the middle by designated player Ava, and then tied the game when KU bungled a high popup.
Hamilton was unable to finish off Ailana Agbayani with a full count and two outs, and Aleia Agbayani followed up her sister’s walk with the RBI double that led the Jayhawks to bring Lizzy Ludwig into the circle for the final out. She induced a groundout to end the threat with KU needing a rally.
It got two baserunners with two outs in the bottom of the fourth and again in the bottom of the fifth, but Linduff grounded out and Roszak popped out.
“We had opportunities early on, again, once again, to kind of push more runs across,” McFalls said. “We had runners in scoring position, we didn’t get the job done earlier. Again, sometimes you just need a little spark to get some things going.”
Instead, a pair of errors in the field, including one at first base in the midst of what could have been an inning-ending rundown, allowed BYU to add an insurance run in the form of pinch runner Lexie Bennett.
Things went from bad to worse in the top of the sixth, when throwing errors by Moore and Cripe, with Cripe’s coming on a key throw to home plate, compounded to send two more Cougars home.
The Jayhawks showed signs of life in the bottom half of the inning, using a walk, a single and a hit-by-pitch to set up Linduff for a two-RBI single.
Cripe was able to reach base on an infield single and move Linduff to second with two outs, but Kate Dahle battled back from 3-0 and got Bruno to ground out.
BYU tacked on its final run on a single up the middle by Ailana Agbayani.
The Jayhawks and Cougars will continue their series Friday at 5 p.m. and wrap it up on Saturday ahead of next week’s Big 12 Conference tournament.
“We’re about to find out what we’re really made of, and how we’re going to respond tomorrow’s going to be huge,” McFalls said. “We can either come back out here tomorrow and lay down or we’re going to come back out here and fight and find a way to get the W.”
Kansas’ Ashlyn Anderson (22) and Lizzy Ludwig (11) high-five in celebration after a strikeout against BYU on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Arrocha Ballpark.
Kansas infielder Campbell Bagshaw claps in celebration against BYU on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Arrocha Ballpark.
Kansas junior Olivia Bruno runs to third base against BYU on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Arrocha Ballpark.
Kansas infielder Hailey Cripe hits the ball against BYU on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Arrocha Ballpark.
Kansas sophomore Lizzy Ludwig pitches against BYU on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Arrocha Ballpark.
Kansas pitcher Kasey Hamilton celebrates after striking out a BYU batter on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Arrocha Ballpark.
Kansas junior Olivia Bruno bats against BYU on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Arrocha Ballpark.
Kansas senior Kasey Hamilton pitches against BYU on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Arrocha Ballpark.
Junior infielder Sara Roszak yells in celebration after tagging out a BYU player on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Arrocha Ballpark.
Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World
Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World
Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World
Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World
Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World
Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World
Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World
Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World
Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World
Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World