For the sixth-straight season, the Iowa State softball team concluded its regular season with a series against the Kansas Jayhawks. After sweeping Kansas last season, the Cyclones hit didn’t keep the momentum going, losing 12-4.

Iowa State wasted no time hanging runs on the scoreboard. In the first inning, sophomore infielder Sami Williams worked a full-count single.

Next, Sydney Stites connected on a two-run home run, putting Iowa State ahead, 2-0.

In the bottom half of the first inning, the Jayhawks responded. Iowa State pitcher Emma Hylen gave up a leadoff single to Kansas’ Erin McGinley. 

Hylen recovered, earning two outs before facing Kansas’ cleanup hitter Harli Ridling. With Ridling at the plate, Hylen made a mistake, and Ridling smacked the ball of the left field fence.

Tied at two, Kansas struck again in the second inning. With two outs, Hylen hit a batter. The No. 9 hitter Brittany Jackson reached via a throwing error, putting on two baserunners for the Jayhawks.

McGinley create problems for the Cyclones again. This time, a single up the middle knocked in two runs, and Kansas took a 4-2 lead.

After doing damage in the bottom of the first and second innings, the third was no different for Kansas.

Kansas’ Shelby Gayre delivered a double, scoring two runs and extending the Jayhawk lead to 6-2. Later in the inning, Gayre scored off a Becki Monaghan sacrifice fly.

An error from Iowa State’s Sydney Stites led to Kansas’ fourth run of the inning. The Cyclones managed to get out of the inning with help from relief pitcher Julie Lewis, trailing 8-2.

In the fifth inning, Iowa State ended its scoring drought. Iowa State’s No. 3 hitter Cara Beatty launched a pitch over the left field fence with Williams on base, cutting the Kansas lead to 8-4.

In the bottom half of the fifth, Kansas answered with a McGinley solo home run. Jesse Roane followed with a double, and Ridling hit her second home run, extending the Jayhawk lead to 11-4.

The string of hits continued with an Annie Mehringer double down the left field foul line. To end the game, Gayre hit a double, scoring Mehringer.