FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Kicking off its third straight postseason appearance, GW softball battled to the final pitch before falling 4-3 to Kansas on Saturday at the National Invitational Softball Championship.

The Buff and Blue were scoreless into the seventh inning at TC Colorado Field until Alexa Williams clubbed a no-doubt three-run home run with two outs to cut the deficit to a run.

The Jayhawks were able to recover to close out the victory, sending GW into a Monday elimination game vs. either top-seeded Virginia or Bowling Green.

After rain and snow delayed the tournament's start by a day, GW and Kansas combined on an entertaining affair that was a pitchers' duel before some final-inning fireworks.

A-10 Pitcher of the Year Sierra Lange and Kansas right-hander Katie Brooks took turns posting zeros before the Jayhawks scratched out a run thanks to three straight hits in the top of the fourth and then added on in the sixth with Angela Price's second RBI single of the game.

Kansas landed the first blow in the seventh as Olivia Bruno's two-run shot doubled the lead to 4-0.

That set the stage for GW's final push. Maddie Spell started the rally with a one-out single, and after a lineout, Lange reached on an error to extend the game. Williams followed with her 12th homer of the season well over the center-field fence.

However, Brooks got the next batter to fly out to finish her complete-game win.

Lange went the distance for the Buff and Blue, allowing four runs on eight hits with six strikeouts.

GW's offense kept the pressure on by getting at least one base runner in every inning thanks to three hits, three walks and three Jayhawk errors.

The A-10 Player of the Year, Williams boosted her season RBI total to 55 in 49 games with the late homer.

Spell and Hannah Eslick were responsible for the Buff and Blue's other two hits, while Maddy Dwyer, Mia Parker and Taylor Puig reached via walks.

With the loss, GW will need three straight wins to earn a spot in the Championship Round. The Buff and Blue will wait to find out their next opponent, taking on the loser of a game between Virginia and Bowling Green on Sunday.