The Iowa State softball team traveled to Minneapolis on Saturday to face the University of Minnesota and North Dakota State University, looking to build on the momentum from its commanding victory over Kirkwood Community College earlier this month.
Despite dropping their first game to Minnesota, the Cyclones left Minneapolis with a win after a convincing 12-5 victory over NDSU to end the fall season.
Tight pitchers duel ends in heartbreaker against Minnesota
In their first game of the day, the Cyclones found themselves locked in a classic pitcher’s duel against Minnesota. Both teams struggled to generate offense with stellar performances from the mound keeping the game tight throughout. However, it was the Gophers who managed to edge out Iowa State with a walk-off ground ball in the final inning, sealing a 1-0 defeat for the Cyclones.
Iowa State’s defense was sharp all game, keeping the Golden Gophers off the board until that final frame. The Cyclones’ pitching staff kept Minnesota’s bats in check, but the offense just couldn’t find its stride, going 0-10 with runners in scoring position.
Despite the quiet day at the plate, the team showed resilience in keeping the game within reach.
Bats come alive against NDSU
The Cyclones bounced back in their second game of the day against North Dakota State and this time, the offense came alive. Iowa State hitters capitalized on every opportunity, delivering in key moments to spark big innings. Throughout the game, the Cyclones’ bats proved too much for NDSU to handle, ultimately leading to a convincing 12-5 victory.
Though Iowa State allowed three unearned runs due to defensive miscues, the offensive firepower more than compensated. Big hits with runners on base and clutch performances throughout the lineup propelled the team to a comfortable win.
Reflecting on the fall season
As the Cyclones wrap up their fall season, head coach Jamie Pinkerton shared some thoughts on the team’s performance over the past few months.
“We finished the fall with stellar offense, the pitching was great and defense was solid for the most part,” Pinkerton said. “We’ll work on some defensive issues over the offseason, especially cutting down on those costly errors, but overall, we’re in a great spot heading into the spring.”
Despite a few defensive hiccups, Pinkerton is optimistic about what this team can achieve when the 2025 season kicks off.
“We’ve got a lot of positives to take into the winter,” Pinkerton said. “I’m excited about this team, and I think we’re ready to cause some havoc in the Big 12 this spring.”
Iowa State will now turn its focus to the winter offseason, fine-tuning its game as it prepares for the highly anticipated 2025 season. With a potent offense, a resilient pitching staff and plenty of potential, this Cyclone squad looks poised to make waves in the Big 12 next year.
