The Iowa State softball team squared off for its home opener against the Houston Cougars (17-15, 1-6 Big 12), capitalizing with a 9-1 victory.
The victory marked the Cyclones’ second victory in a row and first in the Big 12, improving to (17-10, 1-3 Big 12).
Another slow start at the plate
Junior Lauren Schurman began in the circle for the Cyclones, squaring off against Nevaeh Brown, who leads the Cougars with the lowest earned run average (ERA).
The game opened scoreless through the first two innings, just like the Creighton game.
Even with a leadoff single from sophomore Karlee Ford in the second led to no runs.
Johnson’s blast breaks the deadlock
With one out in the bottom of the third inning, senior McKenna Andrews singled up the middle on a 1-0 count.
After sophomore Jessie Clemons flew out to center, senior Tatum Johnson came up to the plate.
On just the first pitch of the at-bat, she roped a home run over the centerfield wall to score Andrews, putting the Cyclones up 2-0.
Senior Reagan Bartholomew had some more action up her sleeve, driving a ball to right field for a triple, but was not able to be brought in.
Cyclones escape Houston threat
The Cougars answered with their own bats in the top of the fourth inning, with a leadoff solo homer by Makenna Mitchell.
Houston would then get two runners on via singles, leading to Schurman getting out of the jam, retiring the next three batters.
Sixth-inning surge blows it open
After back-and-forth innings from both squads with rallies halted by strong pitching from both sides, the Cyclones added one with a Johnson fifth-inning sacrifice fly.
The Cyclones figured it out and exploded for a six-run, five-hit and three-walk sixth inning.
With two outs in the inning and senior Sydney Malott on base after her single, freshman Kasey Kane pinch hit for sophomore Victoria Prado and made her moment count.
Blasting a two-run homer to left field on the second pitch of her at-bat.
Followed by a senior Tiana Poole walk, Andrews followed with a homer of her own to left field, driving the score to 7-1 Cyclones.
After a Houston pitching change, Iowa State collected two more runs to complete the run-rule victory with two singles, two walks and two wild pitches.
Iowa State’s offense collected 10 hits, walked four times, while striking out four times. Clemons, Ford and Andrews each collected multiple hits. The Cyclones stranded just three runners on base.
Pitching duo seals the win
Schurman earned her eighth win of the season, pitching the first four innings, allowing just one run on four hits while walking two and striking out one.
Senior Jaiden Ralston picked up her first save of the season, finishing the last two innings scoreless, allowing two hits, two walks, one strikeout and one hit batter.
The Iowa State softball team took on the Houston Cougars (17-16, 1-7 Big 12) in its home-opening series, resulting in a comeback 9-7 victory.
The four-run comeback victory resulted in the Cyclones’ third straight win, and second in the Big 12, improving to (18-10, 2-3 Big 12).
Game Two Takeaways
Early punch, quick answer
Junior Michigan State transfer Ava Mullen got the start in the circle for the Cyclones.
The Cougars had an answer for her early, scoring four runs on two hits and four walks, getting one out before freshman Olivia Palumbo came in to relieve her.
The Cyclones responded in the bottom frame with a three-run homer from Malott after seniors Johnson and Bartholomew drew a walk and a single.
Houston builds cushion early
In the top of the second after a three pitch groundout, Houston got back-to-back singles followed by an runs-batted-in (RBI) double off Palumbo.
In the third, the Cougars kept the scoring going with a one-out double, then a full count walk, followed by a bunt single to set up bases loaded.
Houston then produced with an RBI single and a fielder’s choice, resulting in a run, increasing their lead to 7-3. Schurman then came in to relieve Palumbo after the second run.
Setting the stage for a rally
In the fourth inning, the Cyclones produced one run to diminish the Cougars lead to just three.
After Poole reached base on an error by the Cougars’ shortstop, followed by a two-out single from Clemons
Setting up Johnson’s single, Poole just before Clemons recorded the third out of the inning on the throw from the right fielder.
Two-out rally flips the game
The Cyclones quickly got bases loaded with a Bartholomew single, Ford single and a Malott walk.
Setting up a one-out RBI groundout from senior pinch hitter Ashley Minor, scoring Bartholomew to push the score to 7-5.
Setting up sophomore Hayleigh Oliver to pinch hit for Poole, seeing just one pitch, resulting in her slicing a single up the middle, scoring Ford and Malott to tie the game at seven.
Senior McKenna Andrews answered on the next pitch with her RBI double to take the lead for the Cyclones.
Insurance adds breathing room
With two outs in the sixth inning, Ford came up to the plate, roping a solo homer on a 1-0 count.
Ralston completed her second save of the season, getting the last three batters out on just nine pitches.
Iowa State’s offense racked up 11 hits and four walks, while striking out just three times. Clemons, Bartholomew, Ford and Andrews picked up multiple hits each.
Veterans shut the door after early trouble
After Mullen and Palumbo had rocky starts to the game, allowing seven total runs on eight hits, five walks and one hit batter.
Schurman and Ralston closed the door for the Cougars to attack anymore.
Schurman earned her ninth win, letting up just two hits and no walks through 3.1 scoreless innings.
The Cyclones quickly got bases loaded with a Bartholomew single, Ford single and a Malott walk.
Setting up a one-out RBI groundout from senior pinch hitter Ashley Minor, scoring Bartholomew to push the score to 7-5.
Setting up Oliver to pinch hit for Poole, seeing just one pitch resulting in her slicing a single up the middle, scoring Ford and Malott to tie the game at seven.
Andrews answered on the next pitch with her RBI double to take the lead for the Cyclones.
Insurance adds breathing room
With two outs in the sixth inning, Ford came up to the plate, roping a solo homer on a 1-0 count.
Ralston completed her second save of the season, getting the last three batters out on just nine pitches.
Iowa State’s offense racked up 11 hits and four walks, while striking out just three times. Clemons, Bartholomew, Ford and Andrews picked up multiple hits each.
Veterans shut the door after early trouble
After Mullen and Palumbo had rocky starts to the game, allowing seven total runs on eight hits, five walks and one hit batter.
Schurman and Ralston closed the door for the Cougars to attack anymore.
Schurman earned her ninth win, letting up just two hits and no walks through 3.1 scoreless innings.
What’s next
Iowa State looks to complete the home-opening series sweep in game three against Houston, Sunday at noon.
