Iowa State is set to begin its final week of the regular season with a pair of in-state rivalry matchups. The final stretch of five games starts with a rematch against Iowa in Iowa City on Tuesday. After that, the Cyclones will return home to Ames for a battle with Drake on Wednesday.

Iowa State is 28-20 this season and 13-8 in Big 12 play. Currently third in the conference and with a chance to jump up to second with a sweep over Baylor this weekend, it could be easy for the Cyclones to overlook the midweek non-conference games.

However, these games are crucial for momentum going into the team’s final series, and have even more significance for the team as rivalry games. On April 15, the Cyclones took down the Hawkeyes 9-5 in the first of two Cy-Hawk matchups this season.

“We stress the importance of winning the state,” Iowa State head coach Jamie Pinkerton said. “UNI, Drake, Iowa. Some years we’ve done it, some years we haven’t.”

After the first victory over Iowa and last week’s win over UNI, Iowa State is knocking on the door of accomplishing that feat.

Iowa preview

Round two of the Cy-Hawk battle will begin at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in Iowa City.

The Hawkeyes are 31-17 this season and have been hot lately. After the loss to Iowa State, Iowa has gone 6-1 with a sweep over Penn State, a win over Drake and a series victory over Michigan State.

Jena Young and Soo-Jin Berry have led the team at the plate, batting .359 and .347, respectively. Minimizing the pair’s impact will be a key to victory for the Cyclones. 

In the first meeting, they stopped them effectively, only allowing Young and Berry to combine for one hit.

Talia Tretton pitched 3.2 innings against Iowa State in the loss. Both teams had a depleted bullpen for the mid-week matchup, so the rotation will likely be different for the rematch. 

Despite the loss, Tretton has been a key piece for Iowa in the circle this season. She is the definitive number two option for the Hawkeyes with a 3.60 ERA and a 9-9 record. 

A key story in the first Cy-Hawk game was the absence of Jalen Adams in the circle. Adams has been the best of the Hawkeye bullpen this season. 

With a record of 22-5, Adams has been a game changer whenever she has taken the field. She has posted 118 strikeouts and a 2.14 ERA. If Adams pitches Tuesday, there will be much more pressure on the Cyclones’ bullpen this time around, as runs will be much harder to come by.

The Cy-Hawk game will be streamed live on Big 10+. 

Drake preview

Iowa State will finish its non-conference schedule Wednesday with a game against the Drake Bulldogs at home.

The Cyclones are 80-32 against the Bulldogs all-time. Last year, Iowa State claimed victory in a close 9-8 game after allowing eight runs in the fourth inning.

Drake has struggled to find its footing this season. The Bulldogs sit at 21-28 and are 5-5 in their last 10 games. In their last series against Valparaiso, they dropped the first two games before claiming a 6-1 win in the final game.

Against the other Iowa schools, which are common opponents for Drake and Iowa State, they have not fared very well. On April 23, the Bulldogs lost 4-0 to Iowa. They’ve played three games against Iowa this season and are 1-2. 

Emma Dighton has been a bright spot at the plate for Drake. She’s hit 11 home runs this season and has contributed nine doubles and three triples. Iowa State has had some trouble dealing with power hitters this season, so Dighton could pose a threat in the game.

Paige Bedsworth has led the Drake bullpen this year. She has a 10-2 record and 1.98 ERA. 

The Bulldogs use a similar pitch-by-committee style as the Cyclones do, splitting innings between five pitchers, but Bedsworth is the clear leader. If she pitches Wednesday, she could give the Cyclones trouble.

Another aspect to consider going into Wednesday’s game is that Iowa State will be coming off a road game Tuesday, while Drake’s last outing was Sunday. With fatigue playing as a potential factor, and an important season-finale series against Baylor on the horizon, Pinkerton may make some alternative lineup choices.

Regardless, Wednesday’s matchup is a big one for the Cyclones, especially if they can claim victory over Iowa. A pair of wins in the mid-week games would give Iowa State a perfect record over its in-state competitors this season.

The matchup against Drake will take place at 4 p.m. Wednesday from the Cyclone Sports Complex. It will be live-streamed on ESPN+.