AMES — Iowa State took down Iowa in the annual Cy-Hawk matchup, winning 9-5 at the Cyclone Sports Complex Tuesday. The win marked head coach Jamie Pinkerton’s fifth straight victory over the Hawkeyes during his time at Iowa State.
Pinkerton said he was concerned about the team’s energy coming off the road trip to Stillwater but credited his players for responding in a big way.
“We weren’t flat, but obviously that six-run fourth inning kind of energized us,” Pinkerton said. “Our motto is to put up a zero after a crooked number. Earlier in the year, the result might not have turned out like this, but they’re showing that growth mindset and maturity. They battled through it.”
Pitch count plays a big factor
Pinkerton rotated pitchers heavily, strategically planning for the upcoming Big 12 series against Kansas.
Sophomore Lauren Schurman started in the circle, faced the first six batters and got five outs, including the first two outs of the second inning. Freshman Abby Huhn finished the second and faced three batters, but surrendered a solo home run and a walk. Junior Jaiden Ralston entered for the third and fourth innings and allowed one hit as she faced six batters.
“We were just trying to manage pitch counts,” Pinkerton said. “Schurman was going to face the first six, Abby [Huhn] was going to come in and face 7-8-9, and then we were hoping to get a couple innings out of Jaiden [Ralston]. Everyone’s arms are a little worn down after Stillwater.”
Iowa State’s big six-run fourth inning
Iowa State’s offense exploded in the fourth. The Cyclones brought 12 batters to the plate and tallied six hits, two walks and one hit-by-pitch to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 6-1 lead.
Senior Angelina Allen led off the inning with a walk. Junior Sydney Malott doubled to right to set up second and third for junior Reagan Bartholomew, who delivered a two-RBI double to left. With two outs, sophomore pinch hitter Isabelle Nosan stepped in and added her own two-RBI double to left.
“I knew there were runners on second and third with two outs,” Nosan said. “I just wanted to score them. That was my whole mindset—keep it simple.”
For Nosan, the moment meant even more against Iowa.
“I hadn’t played them in a regular season game before,” Nosan said. “It was cool to finally do it, and to come through like that made it even better.”
Bartholomew, who finished with three RBIs in the win, said the Cy-Hawk rivalry has always had special meaning to her.
“I’ve been a part of the rivalry my whole life,” Bartholomew said. “To get a win in it is always exciting.”
Hawkeyes bounce back, Iowa State responds
After the Cyclones’ massive fourth inning, Ralston would stay in the game and allow the first batters to reach base via hit by pitch and walk. Schurman would return to the game, walking her first batter followed by an RBI single, then getting the first out via lineout to third base.
The Hawkeyes weren’t ready to stop scoring, as they would score three more runs on two singles and a sacrifice fly.
Pinkerton said he was proud of how the team responded when asked to come through late in the game.
“I just told them in the bottom of the sixth, ‘Your pitching staff is on fumes. We need some runs,’” Pinkerton said. “And they answered.”
The Cyclones closed the door with three insurance runs in the sixth, sparked by a two-out RBI single from Bartholomew and a two-RBI single from freshman Karlee Ford.
Iowa State improved to 21-18 with the win and will carry that momentum into its next Big 12 series against Kansas, beginning at 4 p.m. Thursday. Iowa State will play Iowa again in Iowa City on April 29.
