Kansas softball lost the second game of its three-game series against the University of Central Florida on April 18, falling 9-2 at the UCF Softball Complex in Orlando.
The loss puts Kansas at a record of 29-15, while UCF improved to 35-11-1. The result sets up a decisive third game in the series, scheduled for Sunday morning and available for streaming on ESPN+.
UCF took an early lead with an RBI single from Beth Damon in the first inning. Kansas responded quickly when Ava Wallace drove in Kadence Stafford with a fielder’s choice to tie the score at one run each. In the bottom of the third, UCF broke open the game with a solo home run by Aubrey Evans and added three more runs through singles by Sierra Humphreys and Ashleigh Griffin, extending their lead to 5-1.
Anna Soles provided some offense for Kansas with her ninth home run of the season in the fourth inning. Soles has now recorded hits in nine out of her last ten games. Despite threatening again in the fifth inning, Kansas could not close the gap further.
UCF widened its advantage during their half of the fifth inning as Kendall Yarnell hit her second home run of the series—a two-run shot—followed by additional runs from Macy Miles and Zoe Calvez. Both teams remained scoreless over the final two innings.
Ava Stuewe earned her sixth win for UCF after pitching four and one-third innings, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out four batters. Blakely Barber took her third loss for Kansas after giving up two runs over two and one-third innings pitched. Lena Elkins picked up her first save.
Other notable performances included Ella Boyer catching two runners stealing bases—bringing her season total to six—and Presley Limbaugh reaching base safely for an eighth consecutive game thanks to a walk drawn in this matchup.
Kansas will conclude its series against UCF on Sunday morning.
