LAWRENCE, Kan. – No one knew what to expect for the 2021 season after enduring a year full of unknowns and new things following the 2020 softball season being cut short due to COVID-19. After finishing with a 13-13 record in 2020 with no Big 12 record to build off, the 2021 Kansas softball program took to the field for the third season under head coach Jennifer McFalls staring down the 15th-toughest ranked schedule in NCAA softball.
2021 Highlights by the Numbers
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The Jayhawks recorded 56 home runs during the 2021 season through 48 games to average 1.17 per game and finish tied for 31st in the NCAA (March 24). This is the second-most in a single season by KU, trailing only the 2011 squad who finished the season with 60 through 53 games. Kansas hit 13 at the 2021 UTSA Classic tournament against UTSA, UT-Arlington and Texas A&M Corpus Christi. 11 different student-athletes contributed at least one home run to the tally on the year:
IRVING, Texas – Kansas has placed 14 student-athletes on the 2021 Academic All-Big 12 Softball Team as announced by the conference Thursday. A total of 13 Jayhawks were named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team, including two players – Hailey Reed and Tarin Travieso – who posted a perfect 4.0 GPA. This is the most student-athletes Kansas softball has placed on the Academic All-Big 12 Teams since the award began in 1996.
KU placed 13 student-athletes on the first team with Shelby Gayre (Exercise Science), Tatum Goff (Community Health), Haleigh Harper (Biology), Madison Hirsch (Mechanical Engineering), Lexy Mills (Business Accounting), Macy Omli (Business Accounting), Sydnee Ramsey (Liberal Arts & Sciences), Reed (Business Administration), Peyton Renzi (Community Health), Jordan Richards (Business Administration), Miranda Rodriguez (Sport Management), Travieso (Exercise Science) and Morgyn Wynne (Journalism) all earning the honor. Hannah Todd (Liberal Arts & Sciences) garnered
LAWRENCE, Kan. – In a heartfelt game that played host to honoring two different senior classes, Kansas softball dropped a seven inning battle to Iowa State, 5-4, on Saturday afternoon at Arrocha Ballpark.
With the loss the Jayhawks fall to 22-25 on the season and 2-15 in Big 12. Iowa State improves to 30-19 overall and 5-12 in the Big 12.
Ashlyn Anderson led the Jayhawks from the plate going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Macy Omli finished 2-for-2 with one run, and Morgyn Wynne, Madison Hirsch and Angela Price each tallied a single hit.
The Jayhawks started the game swinging to be the first team to get a run across that began after Anderson hit a double into left field. Omli got on base off a walk that moved Anderson to third. As Omli stole second, Anderon stole home to get KU on the board. Kansas added one more run after Hirsch hit a single into center to score Omli. After one, KU led 2-0.
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas softball team (22-23, 2-13 Big 12) will wrap-up regular-season action this weekend hosting Iowa State (28-19, 3-12 Big 12) at Arrocha Ballpark. The three-game series is scheduled to begin on Friday, May 7 at 6 p.m. Action continues on Saturday, May 8 at 2 p.m., before concluding on Sunday, May 9 at noon.
The weekend’s games will be available to watch on the Big 12 NOW on ESPN+. Leif Lesic will be on the call doing play-by-play all weekend. He will be joined by Jill Dorsey Hall on Friday and Saturday. Dave Stewart will join Leif on Sunday. Fans can also listen to the games on the Jayhawk IMG Radio Network. Links to watch and listen to the game can be found at on the Kansas softball schedule page.
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas softball team (22-20, 2-10 Big 12) will wrap-up Big 12 road action this weekend in Waco, Texas at Baylor (24-15, 5-6 Big 12). The three-game series is slated to begin on Friday, April 30 at 6:30 p.m. and continue with a single game on Saturday, May 1 at 2 p.m. before concluding on Sunday, May 2 at noon.
The weekend’s games will be available to watch on the Big 12 NOW on ESPN+. John Morris will be on the call doing play-by-play all weekend. He will be joined by Kelly Levesque on Friday and Saturday. Jordan Strickland will join John on Sunday.