AMES — Iowa State closed out its regular season with a gritty 4-3 win over Baylor on Sunday, securing the weekend series and clinching the No. 3 seed in the Big 12 Tournament.
The Cyclones improved to 30-22 overall and 15-9 in conference play behind sharp pitching and clutch hitting from a pair of offensive leaders.
One-two-three first inning fuels early momentum
Sophomore Lauren Schurman set the tone in the first inning with three quick groundouts. That momentum carried over to the bottom half, where freshman Jessie Clemons singled and junior Tatum Johnson walked.
After a flyout advanced both runners, Clemons scored on a passed ball to give the Cyclones a 1-0 lead.
Baylor responds in the second
Freshman Abby Huhn entered in relief and quickly found herself in trouble. After two outs sandwiched a single, the Bears capitalized. A stolen base and a two-RBI single down the third base line put Baylor on top 2-1.
Allen delivers senior day statement
After a clean fourth inning by junior Jaiden Ralston, senior Angelina Allen came up and launched a no-doubt homer over the right-center wall on a 3-1 pitch to tie the game at two. It was her first home run since March 7.
“It didn’t hit me [that] it was my last game [at the Cyclone Sports Complex] until I started playing,” Allen said. “So I thought, why not just go out there and leave it all out there?”
Lead changes, then lockdown
Baylor took the lead again in the fifth on a two-out RBI double. But the Cyclones answered back in the bottom of the sixth. After a one-out double from junior McKenna Andrews, Clemons roped an RBI single to left and sprinted to third on a throwing error.
“I’m proud I could make the adjustment,” Clemons said. “Seeing [Lillie] Walker again was tough, but I stuck to what I know and did my job.”
Allen came through again, this time lining an RBI single up the middle on a full count to make it 4-3.
Box score breakdown
Iowa State collected six hits, walked three times and struck out just twice. Clemons and Allen each had two hits, with Allen driving in two runs and Clemons one.
Schurman opened the game and closed it, in which she threw three innings of two-hit, scoreless softball to earn her fourth save. Huhn allowed two runs across two innings, and Ralston picked up her 11th win in two innings of relief.
“They knew what was on the line,” Iowa State head coach Jamie Pinkerton said. “Every time Baylor scored, we answered. That’s the Iowa State softball identity.”
The Cyclones look to carry their momentum into the Big 12 Tournament in Oklahoma City. They open play at 7:30 p.m. Thursday against the winner of No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 Houston.
