CEDAR FALLS – The Iowa State Cyclones exploded for four home runs on Saturday en route to a dominating 21-6 win over the University of Northern Iowa, in nine innings.
Offense on display
The Cyclones’ offense was on display from the jump. Junior Isabelle Nosan launched a two-run home run over the left field fence early on in the second inning to give the Cyclones a 2-0 lead. As impressive as that was, it wasn’t the last time a ball left the stadium in this contest.
After the Panthers briefly regained the lead with a three-run homer of their own in the third, the Cyclones would completely take over the offensive game. In the fifth inning, Iowa State had five hits, including a two-run home run from sophomore standout Jessie Clemons. She went nearly perfect at the plate, recording two singles, one double and one home run in six at-bats. Clemons’ home run gave her team a 4-3 edge.
By the end of the inning, they had scored seven runs for a 9-3 lead, and they never looked back.
“I thought what we’ve been building up in the cage the last couple of weeks has really started to pay off,” Iowa State head coach Jamie Pinkerton said.
There were favors from both. The UNI pitching staff walked seven batters, five alone in the fifth inning. Iowa State also walked seven batters over the nine innings.
“We definitely took advantage of some of their mistakes,” Pinkerton said. “Our pitching staff also needs to clean up the walks.”
Late push extends lead
Sophomore catcher Karlee Ford opened up the seventh inning with a solo home run to bring the tally to three. Sophomore Hayleigh Oliver drove in freshman Kasey Kane with a single, then Clemons followed suit and drove home Nosan to extend the score to 12-5.
The very next inning, sophomore Kadence Shepherd drove home freshman Ava Wilmes and Ford with her first home run of the season and extended the lead to ten. She led the way for a six-run inning, and the Cyclones entered the final frame with an 18-5 lead.
“I think we’re going to continue to build off of this and get better,” Pinkerton said. “Every fall it seems like we start off slow, but it always improves.”
It’s a team sport
Success was not limited to one player on Saturday.
“They have a lot of enthusiasm,” Pinkerton said. “I’m hoping they take that and bring it into tomorrow and the rest of the season.”
As a team, the Cyclones had 27 hits, with nine different players collecting at least one. Four different pitchers entered the circle against the Panthers: freshman Olivia Palumbo, junior Lauren Schurman, senior Jaiden Ralston and junior Ava Mullen. The four combined for seven strikeouts while allowing just ten hits.
“Going forward, we need to cut down on hits and letting them come back in the game,” Pinkerton said. “We need to close that door, and shut it.”
The Cyclones will now look ahead to a Cy-Hawk rivalry at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in Cedar Falls to finish the Big 4 Classic.
