The Iowa State softball team fell to Texas Tech in its final matchup of the series Sunday by a score of 7-5 in Lubbock, Texas. The Cyclones finish the series against the Red Raiders with a 1-2 record on the weekend and fall to a 12-19 overall record on the season.

Ochoa explodes with four-hit game

Junior center fielder Milaysia Ochoa was the star of the game for Iowa State as she had a monstrous performance that kept the Cyclones in the game. She ended up going four-of-four at the plate as she hit two doubles and two home runs.

She continued to show that she is a player that never quits and always performs for her team regardless of the score. Ochoa may have been the overall player of the game, but Iowa State’s offense had a very good day.

Senior catcher Mikayla Ramos started off the scoring in the top of the first inning with a two-run home run that gave Iowa State the early 2-0 lead. Senior left fielder Carli Spelhaug was able to cash in Ramos with a triple to make it 3-0 Cyclones.

The Cyclones were able to score five runs on the day on 11 hits as they kept it close with Texas Tech all game long. 

Cyclones unable to catch up with Red Raiders offense

While Iowa State was able to jump out to the early lead, Texas Tech didn’t allow them to enjoy it for long. The Red Raiders were able to put up six runs in the first two innings which ended up putting Iowa State at a disadvantage throughout the majority of the game.

Ochoa’s home run in the top of the fifth inning gave the Cyclones some hope as she made it 6-4 Texas Tech, but the Red Raiders quickly answered back with their own run in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it 7-4 Texas Tech.

Ochoa’s second home run of the game came in the top of the seventh inning as a last desperate attempt to come back in the game, but Iowa State was not able to pull out a win. 

Moving forward

This was not the way the Cyclones wanted to finish the weekend after a tough-fought battle did not end up going their way. They now look ahead to prepare for a head-to-head matchup against the Northern Iowa Panthers at 4 p.m. Tuesday in Cedar Falls.

After Tuesday’s matchup, the Cyclones will look to head home and prepare for the Texas Longhorns as they will play a three-game series that will begin Thursday.