AMES — Hawkeyes got the best of the Cyclones in the second game of the Cy-Hawk series, 7-2. The series split, and Iowa State moved to 27-18.
The Cyclones wasted opportunities on offense, leaving nine runners on base, while the Hawkeyes drove in all their runs off the long ball en route to their win.
Iowa State hits the road to take on Kansas in a three-game set this weekend. Friday’s game will start at 5 p.m., Saturday’s at 2 p.m. and Sunday’s at noon. All games will be streamed on ESPN+.
Home run bug stings Cyclones
It was the home run ball in a Cy-Hawk rematch that proved dividends in Iowa State’s loss.
In the second inning, Cyclones’ starting pitcher was junior right-handed pitcher Ava Mullen, who walked two batters to put up the heart of Iowa’s order.
Iowa freshman third baseman Phoenyx Silva, who had a batting average of .232 going into the game, blasted a three-run homer that scraped over the wall in right field to kick off the scoring.
Junior right-handed pitcher Lauren Schurman entered after and didn’t run into any trouble until sophomore second baseman Kiara Sipe came up with two outs in the third.
Sipe crushed one to center that cleared the wall, giving Iowa a 4-0 lead.
After two runners reached base in the fourth, Iowa’s junior catcher Leah McAnally smoked a ball to left to put the Hawkeyes up 7-0.
Every run Iowa scored was via the home run ball, and they took advantage of some pitches that caught too much of the plate.
“We left a couple pitches where they could get it out of the park, and they’re a much better hitting team this year,” head coach Jamie Pinkerton said.
Iowa State’s pitching staff has allowed the fourth-most home runs among Big 12 teams in conference play. This bad matchup proved costly in Ames.
Iowa State couldn’t repeat its offensive success
In their last meeting with the Hawkeyes, the Cyclones cashed in nine runs in a 9-7 win. They tallied 11 hits and left only four runners on base.
This time around, Iowa State registered only one fewer hit than Iowa at seven, but left nine runners on and only scored two. Even though the Cyclones had bases loaded twice, they scored one run.
The other run came off a pinch-hit single that scored sophomore catcher Karlee Ford, who was on second after hitting a double to left-center field.
Junior center fielder Tatum Johnson saw the ball well against Iowa. She picked up two hits, a walk and a hit by pitch Tuesday. Along with tallying three hits, including a home run in game one of the Cy-Hawk series.
Johnson alone wasn’t enough to get it done in game two, as the Cyclones were unable to convert their chances.
“I know we left like nine runners on, which is just not okay, and that’s how you lose games,” Johnson said.
The Cy-Hawk rivalry evens out
Since 2010, Iowa State is 11-6-1 against Iowa and has had a lot of success against its rivals. However, the two teams have split the series the last two years.
Iowa only hit eight home runs in the 2023 season, but has rebounded since. They finished close to .500 in 2024 and went 35-18 in 2025.
“This rivalry’s not always going to stay as lopsided as it’s been,” Pinkerton said. “Things are looking up for the rivalry, which is good. It’s good for the sports, good for the state.”
