Iowa State wrapped up its final two games at the Rebel Invitational in Oxford, Mississippi, with a doubleheader against No. 22 Ole Miss. The Cyclones fell 9-0 in six innings in game one before suffering a close 8-6 loss in the second game.
With these results, Iowa State finished 1-3 in the tournament, bringing its overall record to 11-14.
Game One: No. 22 Ole Miss 9, Iowa State 0
The Rebels struck early, scoring in three straight innings to build a 6-0 lead, capitalizing on three walks, two singles and an Iowa State error. Ole Miss sealed the win with a three-run homer in the sixth, which enforced the run-rule.
Offensively, the Cyclones struggled to generate momentum, recording just three hits and one walk while striking out nine times and leaving four runners on base. Freshman Sereniti Trice, senior Angelina Allen and junior Sydney Malott each tallied a hit.
Sophomore Lauren Schurman took the loss, surrendering six runs, two earned, on six hits over 2.2 innings, with one strikeout and three walks. Junior Jaiden Ralston provided 2.2 innings of relief and allowed three earned runs on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
Defensively, Iowa State’s two errors proved costly, leading to multiple unearned runs. The Cyclones did turn a double play in the game.
Game Two: No. 22 Ole Miss 8, Iowa State 6
Iowa State got on the board first with a two-out RBI single in the opening frame, but Ole Miss responded with a solo homer and RBI single in the second. The Rebels added two more in the third on a two-run homer and another in the fourth via an RBI triple.
The Cyclones fought back, scoring one in the fourth on an RBI groundout and added three in the fifth on an RBI single and a two-RBI double. Iowa State briefly took the lead in the sixth on a sacrifice fly, making it 6-5.
However, Ole Miss answered with three runs in the bottom half, shutting down the Cyclones in the seventh to secure the win.
Iowa State collected seven hits and four walks but struck out nine times while stranding six runners. Allen and junior Tatum Johnson led the offense with two hits each, including Johnson’s two-RBI double and Allen’s RBI single.
Trice reached base twice and scored on a walk and an error, while Malott’s first-inning single drove in the game’s opening run. Juniors McKenna Andrews and Tiana Poole each picked up RBIs on balls in play.
Freshman Abby Huhn started in the circle, pitched two innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits. Ralston pitched one inning of relief, and gave up one earned run on two hits and a walk. Schurman closed the game, threw three innings and allowed three earned runs on two hits with one walk and one strikeout.
Defensively, Iowa State had another double play, but was hampered by a crucial error in the second inning that led to an unearned run.
Up next, the Cyclones will head to Orlando for their second Big 12 series of the season to face UCF (20-11-1) in a three-game set.
