Kansas softball hosted Texas Tech in its conference home opener on Friday at Arrocha Ballpark. Texas Tech came into the series ranked No. 13 and defeated the Jayhawks 9-0.
On the mound for Kansas was junior Lizzy Ludwig, who went five innings, allowing nine runs on nine hits. Texas Tech got the scoring started in the top of the first with a double steal that scored junior Mihyia Davis. Davis led off the inning with a double to left center.
That allowed Texas Tech starting pitcher junior NiJaree Canady for Texas Tech, to have a lead before she took the mound. Canady went five innings not allowing a run or hit and had 12 strikeouts.
Junior Hailey Cripe worked a two-out walk against Canady but the Jayhawks weren’t able to do anything else and Texas Tech led 1-0 after the first inning.
The Red Raiders would add four more runs to their lead in the top of the second after a couple of RBI doubles from senior Demi Elder and freshman Kiley Huffman. Sophomore Lauren Allred opened the game up with a two-run home run over the center field wall to make it 5-0 Texas Tech after two innings.
Texas Tech added to its lead again in the top of the fourth as senior Alexa Langeliers doubled to left field scoring a run and freshman Hailey Toney followed it with a two-run single to center field. The Red Raiders held a 8-0 lead after 3 ½ innings.
Kansas was unable to get anything going off of Canady. Besides a couple of walks, nothing was working for the Jayhawks and after four innings of play, Kansas had no hits and Canady was up to 10 strikeouts.
Texas Tech added another run in the top of the fifth after Elder grounded out to junior Emma Tatum at second and allowed freshman Bailey Lindemuth to score from third. Kansas needed to score two runs in the bottom of the fifth to keep the game going as it trailed 9-0.
Canady allowed a leadoff walk to sophomore September Flanagan but then struck out the next two batters, and sophomore Madi Hayes was thrown out trying to steal second to end the inning and the game. Those two strikeouts gave Canady 12 on the game and she threw a five-inning no-hitter against the Jayhawks.
Kansas would fall to 15-13 on the season and will look to bounce back Saturday against the Red Raiders in the doubleheader. First game of the doubleheader is scheduled for 2 p.m. and both games will be broadcast on ESPN+.
