September Flanagan may not have started Saturday afternoon’s game for the Kansas softball team, but she definitely finished it.
Flanagan’s pinch-hit single in the bottom of the seventh inning brought home Kadence Stafford to lift the Jayhawks to a 5-4 victory over Baylor in the final game of a Big 12 series at Arrocha Ballpark on Saturday.
With the win, Kansas has now won all five of its conference series this season, and the Jayhawks’ 29 victories thus far are the most in head coach Jennifer McFalls’ eight seasons as Kansas head coach.
“I talked with (McFalls) before the game about believing in myself,” said Flanagan, who came into Saturday’s game batting .340 with five homers and 20 RBIs. “When I came up to bat, I just thought about what we talked about before the game and I got the hit.”
Flanagan’s hit made a winner out of Kansas freshman reliever Lila Partridge (4-3), who threw four innings and allowed just one run on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
“When I came into the game, I just wanted to do my job,” said Partridge, who has made 17 appearances (six starts) for the Jayhawks this season. “I just wanted to make (Baylor) put the ball in play and let my defense work. They had my back today and that’s one of the biggest reasons why we’ve been successful. I know that if I make a mistake and give up a run, my teammates will pick me up and score two or three.”
Baylor (24-18, 7-8 Big 12) got on the board first in the top of the second. Kaygen Marshall lined a solo homer to deep center field to give Baylor an early 1-0 lead, and later in the inning, Gianna Gusman reached on a bunt single, stole second and came home on a long single by Brooklyn Carter to make it 2-0 Bears.
Kansas (29-12, 10-5) struck back in the bottom half, getting solo homers from Hailey Cripe – her 13th long ball of the season – and Ava Wallace, her second homer this year, to tie the game at 2.
Baylor retook the lead, 3-2, in the top of the third, but Kansas reliever Lizzy Ludwig got a groundout and strikeout to keep the Jayhawks within one run. Kansas had multiple baserunners in the third and fourth innings, but a double play ended the Kansas rally in the third and a flyout and strikeout by Baylor reliever Peyton Tanner got the Bears out of the fourth with their 3-2 lead intact.
Baylor’s luck ran out in the fifth, though, as Kansas scored a pair of unearned runs on one hit, a walk, a hit batsman, an error, and a fielder’s choice to take a 4-3 lead. That advantage was short-lived, as the Bears’ Averie Waddell led off the top of the sixth with a solo homer down the left field line to tie the game at 4.
It stayed 4-4 until the bottom of the seventh, when Ella Boyer and Stafford each drew walks to put runners on first and second with one out. Cripe then singled up the middle, but Boyer was gunned down at the plate trying to score the game-winning run.
However, in the aftermath of the play at the plate, Kansas still had runners on first and third with two outs when Flanagan stepped to the plate. On a 1-1 pitch, she lifted a fly ball to shallow right field that dropped just inside the foul line, bringing home Stafford and giving the Jayhawks the hard-fought win.
“I couldn’t be more proud (of Flanagan),” McFalls said. “We talked before the game and I told her not to be surprised if I called on her to hit, and she came through for us.”
Cripe was the only Kansas player with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with her solo homer. Stafford also scored a pair of runs for the Jayhawks in the win.
Kansas is back in action Wednesday, hosting Missouri in a nonconference matchup. First pitch at Arrocha Ballpark is scheduled for 5 p.m. Central time.
Kansas’ Hailey Cripe throws to first base against Baylor on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Lawrence.
The Kansas softball team celebrates its win against Baylor on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Lawrence.
Kansas’ Kaelee Washington pitches against Baylor on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Lawrence.
Kansas’ Kadence Stafford hits the ball against Baylor on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Lawrence.
Kansas’ Ava Wallace celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run against Baylor on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Lawrence.
Kansas’ Hailey Cripe celebrates a home run against Baylor on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Lawrence.
The Kansas softball team huddles before playing against Baylor on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Lawrence.
Kansas’ Hailey Cripe celebrates a home run against Baylor on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Lawrence.
Kansas’ Ava Wallace celebrates a home run against Baylor on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Lawrence.
Kansas’ Anna Soles makes a catch for an out against Baylor on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Lawrence.
Kansas’ Hailey Cripe applies a tag for an out against Baylor on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Lawrence.
Kansas’ Ella Boyer slides home against Baylor on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Lawrence.
Kansas’ Kadence Stafford dives in to score a run against Baylor on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Lawrence.
Kansas’ Kadence Stafford, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring a run against Baylor on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Lawrence.
Kansas’ Anna Soles gets an out against Baylor on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at Arrocha Ballpark in Lawrence.
Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World
Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World
Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World
Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World
Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World
Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World
Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World
Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World
Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World
Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World
Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World
Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World
Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World
Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World
Henry Wiley/Special to the Journal-World