Miranda Stoddard’s shutout start kept Kansas at bay all day long, handing the Jayhawks a 2-0 loss on Friday afternoon at Arrocha Ballpark. Kansas was only able to notch four hits on the afternoon, and fell victim to multiple double plays.
“We want to stay with an aggressive mindset,” Kansas coach Jennifer McFalls said. “They’re a great defensive team so you know that shortstop making that catch over her head, she’s got long arms and we’ve got to just be aware that those opportunities can happen.
Making her sixth start of the year, Olivia Bruno got through the first inning scoreless thanks to the defense behind her. After striking out Arizona’s Dakota Kennedy to open the game, Bruno issued a walk before shortstop Hailey Cripe snagged a hard-hit liner, firing back to first and ending the frame with a double play.
Kansas’ offense matched Arizona in the bottom part of the first, stranding Presley Limbaugh on second after her leadoff double.
Bruno spun her second consecutive scoreless frame in the second, notching her second strikeout of the afternoon and stranding a runner on second to keep things even.
“Every game is the same to me when it comes to my process. As a hitter, I kind of know what it’s like to be up at the plate,” Bruno said. “Knowing where the umpire’s strike zone is helps a lot but mostly pounding the zone, making the hitters hit.”
After Stoddard picked up two quick outs to open the bottom of the second, Kansas’ Campbell Bagshaw added the Jayhawks’ second hit of the day with a single rocketed back up the middle. Unfortunately for her, Natalie Marshall followed with a groundout that ended the frame.
Opening the third, Jenna Sniffen got the Wildcats on the board by launching a leadoff home run on the first pitch she saw. The bottom of the order continued to produce for Arizona, as shortstop Tayler Biehl followed the homer with a single to right field, putting another runner aboard before Bruno retired each of the top three in the Wildcat order, escaping the frame with only one run allowed.
Quick to respond, Kansas picked up back-to-back baserunners with one out in the fourth when Limbaugh added her second double of the day and advanced to third off an error that allowed Aynslee Linduff to reach first. Linduff would attempt to swipe second, being thrown out before Cripe grounded out to end the inning.
Heading back to work in the fourth, Bruno tossed another inning of scoreless pitching, working around a walk to continue keeping Kansas within striking distance. She attempted to create her own offense, reaching on an error to start the inning, but was doubled off on a shallow pop up before Stoddard continued her scoreless day by forcing another groundout.
Arizona’s offense roared to life in the fifth and extended its lead, as a leadoff single from Sniffen was parlayed into a two-out RBI double from Kaiah Altmeyer. Bruno was able to escape after that, using a flyout from Devyn Netz to escape the inning with only one run allowed. The Wildcat defense went back on display in the bottom of the inning, turning its second double play of the evening to keep the Jayhawks at bay.
Responding in similar fashion once again, the Kansas defense turned yet another double play in the sixth. Cripe made a leaping snag on a liner from Paige Dimler, flipping it on to second to double off Sydney Stewart and help Bruno out of the inning.
“Knowing that I have some of the greatest athletes behind me is amazing,” Bruno said. “They work really, really hard and just to see them prosper out on the field, just it brings me joy.”
Stoddard’s dominant outing continued in the bottom of the sixth, as she navigated a one-out walk and ended the frame.
Bruno found herself in hot water in the seventh and final inning of the day, allowing the first two Wildcats to reach base before Kadence Stafford’s sliding grab finally helped Kansas get its first out.
The Jayhawk defense continued to perform following Stafford’s grab, helping Bruno again work out of a jam and hold the Arizona offense scoreless, sending the game to the bottom of the seventh with Kansas in striking distance, trailing by two.
Anna Soles negotiated a leadoff walk to begin the inning, sending September Flanagan to the plate while representing the tying run. Flanagan singled up the middle on the first pitch she saw, ending Stoddard’s day and bringing Netz over from first base to close for Arizona.
“I loved our fight, I was just disappointed in our execution when we had a couple opportunities with runners in scoring position,” McFalls said. “We just got to be better in those tough situations.”
Faced with the tying run already aboard, Netz struck each of the ensuing three batters she saw, helping the Wildcats escape and capping off the shutout tossed by the Arizona staff.
Kansas will look to even the series tomorrow, with first pitch between the Jayhawks and Wildcats slated for 2 p.m. The game can be seen on ESPN+.
Trevor Butler is a freshman from Snohomish, Washington, studying journalism with a concentration in sports media with a minor in sports management. In his free time, Butler enjoys attending sporting events, watching NASCAR, playing video games and learning the guitar. His X is @Trev_B27
This article was edited by sports editor Liam Carson. Contact him atcarsonlo@ku.edufor feedback or errors.
