The Cyclones dropped their first two games of the Mardi Gras Mambo on Friday.
The day began with a 4-3 extra-inning loss to Stephen F. Austin (SFA) before Iowa State suffered a 9-3 loss to Southeastern Louisiana. The skid pushes Iowa State to 6-9 on the season.
SFA recap
Sophomore Aziza Rodriguez started in the circle for the Cyclones against SFA. After pitching the first two innings, sophomore Lauren Schurman took the mound and would pitch until the bottom of the eighth inning.
The Cyclones came out hot, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning after a sac fly RBI from freshman Jessie Clemons and a two-run home run from junior Sydney Malott.
Iowa State’s offense cooled down quickly after the hot start, putting up just four hits at the plate in the remaining seven innings.
SFA maintained pressure offensively and trickled in runs as the Cyclones’ bats stalled, chipping away with runs in the first and third innings before tying it up 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth.
The game would remain knotted into extra innings. In the top of the eighth, the Cyclones went three up and three down, putting pressure on in the bottom of the inning.
Junior Jaiden Ralston was given a tough task in the circle. She was brought in with runners on second and third, with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning.
An RBI single to left field for SFA sealed a disappointing loss for the Cyclones in a game that could have been a great team win to start the tournament.
Southeastern Louisiana recap
Freshman Abby Huhn got the nod as the starting pitcher for Iowa State against Southeastern Louisiana.
The Cyclones would get on the board first with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning after a run on a fielder’s choice and another on a throwing error. The Lions battled back in the bottom of the second and tied the game at 2-2 entering the third.
Junior Tatum Johnson had an RBI single in the top of the third to bring in Clemons, and the Cyclones pulled ahead 3-2.
After that, it was an onslaught from the Lions batter’s box. They poured it on with two runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings, sealing the deal with a final run in the sixth. The game ended at 9-3 in the top of the seventh in favor of the Lions.
The Cyclones return to the field at 5 p.m. Saturday to continue the Mardi Gras Mambo with a matchup against Houston Christian.
