Cripe powers Jayhawks to 6-5 victory over Houston in Big 12 tournament | News, Sports, Jobs

photo by: Brett Rojo/For the Big 12 Conference

The Kansas softball team greets Hailey Cripe at home plate after her home run against Houston on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 in Oklahoma City.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Sophomore shortstop Hailey Cripe tied a Big 12 Conference record by driving in five runs, becoming the fifth player to do so in the league softball tournament, and she led the Kansas softball team to a 6-5 victory over Houston in Devon. Park Wednesday evening.

Cripe hit a two-run homer in the first inning, then cleared the bases with a two-out double in the fourth. She previously had just five total RBIs in the 16 games since scoring six against Iowa State on April 5.

“She worked hard the last two days,” KU coach Jennifer McFalls said. “She just missed a few balls last weekend and she was probably a little too under, but today she was on fire.”

Fittingly, she also caught the decisive popup with two outs, the bases loaded and Houston trailing by one to end a last-ditch rally by the Cougars.

“I was totally confident we were going to get through this,” McFalls said. “We just had to stay calm, get ground balls, keep the ball in the park, most importantly. And we did it, we did it. We got a lot closer than we should have been.

Between Cripe’s offensive breakthrough and a strong start from winning pitcher Kasey Hamilton (who struck out six Cougars), the seventh-seeded Jayhawks ended a 10-game losing streak by eliminating the team from last place in the league.

“Coach told us today that it’s a new season for us,” Cripe said. “We started 0-0. We had the opportunity to guess how this was going to happen. Obviously we’re 1-0 to start.

McFalls said the team viewed the game as an “opportunity” rather than “a pressure situation.”

“We’re still in great shape, I think,” she said. “Yes, we are putting ourselves against the wall a bit. They had a lot of fighting and shooting over the last two days of practice – we had a lot of good conversations over the last two days.

Presley Limbaugh went 3-for-4 for KU, while pitcher Shelby Smith was the only UH player with multiple hits.

As the Jayhawks continue to struggle for playoff positioning, they will now face second-seeded Oklahoma, one of the most dominant programs in modern softball (although not to the same extent this season, with six losses ) and a team that KU did not beat. in his last 22 attempts.

“Obviously, OU is a great team, but you know, they’re beatable, and they showed that this year,” McFalls said. “And we just have to keep playing Kansas softball. We have to focus on us and not on them… We’ve had a very difficult last three weeks, it’s been a bit of a challenge for us, and we’ve even been in a lot of very, very close games. even if we didn’t get the results.

“So I think at the end of the day they have a lot of confidence to play tomorrow.”

Hamilton struck out two batters in the first inning, and the Jayhawks’ offense got underway with a two-out walk from new all-conference selection Lyric Moore. Cripe quickly hit a home run over the fence into right-center field to give KU an early 2-0 advantage.

KU’s Olivia Bruno reached base on a bloop single and Campbell Bagshaw scooped a ball down the third-base line for another hit to continue the two-out rally, but Sara Roszak popped out to shortstop Brooke Lorenzo for end the threat.

Hamilton had a little more trouble when a Smith single put runners on the corners with one out in the second inning. Designated player Katy Repa flew into foul territory and Aynslee Linduff made the throw to complete a double play at second base, but Bethany Aguilar was able to come up from third and score before the end of the inning.

KU responded immediately, as Ashlyn Anderson tripled despite a diving attempt in the outfield and Angela Price brought it home with a sacrifice fly of her own.

Both offenses proceeded fairly calmly until the Jayhawks got three singles and loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning, creating an opportunity for Moore. The catcher found himself on a fielder’s choice, but Cripe came back into the cleanup spot once again with a double to the wall that brought in three runs and pushed KU’s lead to 6-1.

“I’ve been in a bases-loaded situation a lot this year,” Cripe said, “and so I think it’s really just a mindset that all my teammates know I can do it, and I know they’re behind me, so I know I’m not up there alone, I know I have 23 girls supporting me when I’m up there.

Houston got one back in the top of the sixth inning on another sacrifice fly, this time by Bree Cantu after a groundout was overturned by replay. However, Moore was able to catch Turiya Coleman stealing, before Hamilton got her sixth strikeout, which is only the fifth time this season she has reached that number.

‘Dominate’ was kind of the key word for me today,” Hamilton said. “Getting on top of the hitters and staying on top of the hitters. And when I stay on top of the hitters, good things happen.

KU missed an opportunity to extend its lead in the bottom half of the inning after putting two runners on the line with singles up the middle. Linduff hit them, but Moore grounded out and Price was caught on her way to home plate for a double play.

“We should have avoided this,” McFalls said, reflecting on the UH rally that followed shortly after. “Again, you hate to put all that pressure on Kasey and our defense, but more importantly, I’m proud of Lizzy for coming in and helping us close the door right there, getting us those balls at the ground and get us out of there.” this round.

When Ludwig replaced Hamilton in the seventh, Lair Beautae had already hit a two-run single against Hamilton to put runners on the corners. Ludwig walked Jazmyn Rollin to load the bases again, then following a fielder’s choice that made the score 6-5, KU made a defensive error on what could have been a soft groundout, loading the bases one third time.

Eventually, Kennedy Thomas went to Cripe to end the threat.

The first pitch between KU and OU is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Devon Park.

photo by: Brett Rojo/For the Big 12 Conference

Kansas shortstop Hailey Cripe attempts to score against Houston’s Turiya Coleman on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Oklahoma City.

photo by: Brett Rojo/For the Big 12 Conference

Kansas coach Jennifer McFalls smiles during the game against Houston, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Oklahoma City.

photo by: Brett Rojo/For the Big 12 Conference

Kansas catcher Lyric Moore slides into second base against Houston on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Oklahoma City.

photo by: Brett Rojo/For the Big 12 Conference

Kansas shortstop Hailey Cripe circles the bases against Houston on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Oklahoma City.

photo by: Brett Rojo/For the Big 12 Conference

Kansas first baseman Campbell Bagshaw attempts to make a play during the game against Houston, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Oklahoma City.

photo by: Brett Rojo/For the Big 12 Conference

Kansas third baseman Ashlyn Anderson takes off during the game against Houston, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Oklahoma City.

photo by: Brett Rojo/For the Big 12 Conference

Kansas third baseman Ashlyn Anderson celebrates her triple against Houston on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 in Oklahoma City.