AMES – Iowa State fell to BYU 13-0 in a rout Saturday in Ames. The Cougars scored nine runs in the top of the fifth inning in an onslaught. The bats were hot all day for BYU, as it posted 13 hits and four home runs.
The loss brings the Cyclones back even at 17-17. Despite losing the series, at 7-5 in conference play, Iowa State is tied with BYU for fourth in the Big 12. After the game, Iowa State head coach Jamie Pinkerton was still enthusiastic about the state of the team as the season heats up.
“We’ve never been this high in the standings late in the season, so still have a lot to play for,” Pinkerton said. “Just have to clean some things up.”
Down 4-0 going into the top of the fifth inning, things were looking bleak for the Cyclones, but the game was certainly not out of reach. Junior Jaiden Ralston was in the circle to begin the inning. She entered part of the way into the first after three quick BYU runs to open the game.
The fifth inning began quietly with a quick flyout from Lindy Milkowski for the first out. The first sign of trouble came with a long triple from Keila Kamoku, which was followed by Aleia Agbayani being hit by a pitch.
With a scoring threat present with runners on first and third and one out, freshman Sami Potvin took over pitching duties from Ralston. The Cougars quickly capitalized on the early success when Abbey Gillespie, who was pinch running for Agbayani, stole second, Kamoku stole home on the throw to second to make the game 5-0. 
Gillespie advanced to third on the throw home. Iowa State challenged that the runner had left the base early, but was unsuccessful.
Following a walk, Tristen Turlington, who pinch hit, doubled and drove in Gillespie from third. With runners now on second and third base, Potvin walked Bre Townsend and Lauren Flanders, who entered to pinch run.
BYU now had the bases loaded, and had already taken the game from 4-0 at the start of the inning to 6-0. Pinkerton made the call for sophomore Lauren Schurman to enter the game for Potvin. Schurman had a tall task ahead of her to get out of the inning unscathed.
Back at the top of the lineup, Lily Owens entered the batter’s box. She crushed the ball to deep center field, in what was as close to a grand slam as one could hit without actually getting the home run.
Bouncing off the wall, inches away from the grand slam, the shot brought in the runners at second and third. Hailey Morrow followed up with an RBI single, bringing the game to 9-0.
If there was a silver lining in the fact that Iowa State avoided the grand slam, Ilove’a Brittingham quickly took it away. She took the ball for a ride with a long home run that continued her hot streak in the box, and knocked in three more runs.
Milkowski, who flew out to begin the inning, returned to the plate to hit another home run to cap off an unbelievable streak of scoring for the Cougars. A lineout and a ground out quickly followed and the top half of the inning mercifully ended, 13-0.
All in all, BYU put up nine runs on six hits in the top of the fifth inning.
Junior Ashley Minor doubled in the bottom of the fifth, but it was ultimately too little, too late. Minor’s hit was only one of two for the Cyclones all day, in a tough outing at the plate.
Pinkerton took the blame for the struggles after the game and referenced the adjustments they made in their win on Thursday.
“Today, we didn’t make that adjustment, and that starts with me,” Pinkerton said. “I should have been in their ears quicker and I’ll take responsibility for that.”
The loss was finalized after BYU closed out the fifth inning to run rule the Cyclones. The final was 13-0.
Iowa State will look to rebound with a midweek game against Kansas City at 4 p.m. Wednesday in Ames.
