AMES — The Iowa State Cyclones fell 8-5 against the UCF Knights on Friday afternoon at the Cyclone Sports Complex.
A first-inning grand slam set the tone early in the ballgame. With the loss, the Cyclones fell to 31-22 while the Knights moved to 37-14-1 on the season.
The Cyclones second game against the Knights is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday and can be streamed on ESPN+.
Grand slam pits Cyclones early
Iowa State fell into a 4-0 hole at the top of the first inning after a grand slam by UCF junior second baseman Sierra Humphreys. Senior shortstop Aubrey Evans and sophomore designated player Kendall Yarnell, the first two in the Knights’ lineup, had hits to get on base beforehand.
“That’s been the Achilles heel of our team all year,” head coach Jamie Pinkerton said. “It’s on me. I haven’t figured it out.”
The Knights were on track to repeat that grand slam, as they got two runners on base afterward. The Cyclones claimed their third out by beating sophomore rightfielder Zoe Calvez to second base after fielding a hit from UCF junior Samantha Rey.
UCF feeds fire in next three innings
The Knights didn’t let off the gas in the top of the second, as UCF sophomore left fielder Izzy Mertes blasted a 246-foot two-run home run to left field to make the score 6-0. That home run was Mertes’ 11th of the season.
In the top of the third, UCF added another run when redshirt senior first baseman Ashleigh Griffin beat the throw from shallow right field to home and dodged the tag from sophomore catcher Karlee Ford. After a lengthy review, the officials confirmed the call, leaving Cyclone fans spinning their heads.
In the next inning, UCF sophomore catcher Beth Damon hit the Knights’ third home run of the game and the second of those three to left field. Damon’s 13th home run of the season made the score 8-4.
Cyclones’ four-run inning keeps hopes alive
The Cyclones didn’t remain scoreless after two innings. Sophomore left fielder Jessie Clemons and senior centerfielder Tatum Johnson each had RBI hits in the bottom of the third to bring in four runs for the Cyclones.
Clemons’ RBI double to left-center brought in senior rightfielder Tiana Poole for the Cyclones first run. Johnson’s three-run home run truly changed the narrative as it made the score 7-4.
The Knights were held scoreless in the last three innings. The Cyclones, however, only had one run in the last four and simply couldn’t keep pace, as UCF pitcher Isabella Vega quickly recovered from the four runs that were given up.
“She did a good job of getting us off balance,” Pinkerton said. “Working up and in, down and away and changing speeds. The change-up she doesn’t really throw for a strike, but she did so more today than she normally does.”
