AMES – Iowa State softball earned a Big 12 series win against No. 18 Baylor Sunday after a 6-5 win.

Iowa State catcher Camille Marin launched the go-ahead home run in the fourth inning against Baylor ace Dariana Orme. The Cyclones picked up their first series win in Big 12 play on Senior Day.

“It was a difference maker in the game,” Pinkerton said about Marin’s home run. “Very happy to see that for Camile.”

Janessa Jasso, Angelica Gonzalez, Sarah Tyree, Lea Nelson, Kasey Simpson, Ellie Spelhaug, Mikayla Ramos were honored postgame as their team improved to 4-11 in Big 12 play.

Marin makes the difference

Baylor looked to have broken the game open in the fourth inning.

The Bears forced Iowa State starter Saya Swain to exit the game after their offense made contact and drove in a run on four-straight at bats. Baylor sent nine to the plate and scored four runs to make it 5-1 going into the bottom of the fourth.

Iowa State needed an answer and it found it in backup catcher Marin.

Marin launched her first career home run with a 2-2 count, scoring Alesia Ranches and Tatum Johnson and putting the Cyclones up 6-5.

Orme, the leading pitcher for Baylor, entered to pitch just before Marin came to the plate.

“I was really just trying to make a quick adjustment from the first pitch on,” Marin said. “I was really just trying to do what I do and see a pitch I could take for a ride.”

Marin has traded starts at the catcher position with Natalie Wellet since Ramos has faced a knee injury. Marin entered the game with five hits and two doubles on the season in 36 at bats.

Iowa State held Baylor scoreless and the 6-5 lead held, allowing the Cyclones to pick up their third ranked win of the season.

Cyclones versus Orme

Baylor ace Orme suffered two losses against Iowa State in the series.

Orme leads the Baylor bullpen in innings pitched and earned run average. The Baylor junior is second in the conference in strikeouts, but Cyclones hitters were able to make her uncomfortable in Cyclone Sports Complex Friday and Sunday.

Sunday, Baylor’s RyLee Crandall received the start and did not allow an earned run for her first three innings of work in the circle. In the bottom of the second, high wind speeds affected two fly balls for the Baylor defense.

Carli Spelhaug was credited with a double after her high fly ball to left centerfield found the outfield grass. She scored the first run of the game when Ranches popped up down the right field line. The ball bounced off the glove of Baylor second basemen Presleigh Pilon and Iowa State led 1-0.

Crandall continued for a scoreless third inning but then faced an Iowa State rally in the fourth. After RBI singles from Ranches and Tatum Johnson cut the Baylor lead to 5-3. Orme entered from the Baylor bullpen for the Marin’s at bat and the Iowa State catcher made the game changing hit.

Orme left the game after making two outs for her team as the Cyclones threatened again in the fifth inning. She became the losing pitcher of record

“We watched a lot of film on her and we had a good game plan going into that game,” [Carli] Spelhaug said postgame. “Once she got in there we were hungry to beat her again.”

For the series, Omre allowed three runs in 5.2 innings pitched and allowed two home runs. Iowa State recorded the win over Orme Friday with the help of a Ramos home run.

Omre entered Sunday’s matchup with a 1.66 earned run average. She had allowed nine home runs before facing the Cyclones.

Senior Day for seven

Iowa State honored seven seniors after Sunday’s game including two with a presence in the Iowa State record books.

With one home game remaining against Drake Wednesday, the senior Ramos sits at second on the all-time RBI list for Iowa State. The senior pitcher Spelhaug moved into sole position of 8th place on the all-time wins list with her win today.