AMES – Coming off a series-clinching victory over Arizona State, Iowa State had to come up big against BYU, which has been an offensive powerhouse this season. The Cyclones took a 5-3 win over the Cougars.

BYU opened the game with a home run off of its first batter. 

The Cyclones quickly took over in the bottom of the second with a home run by freshman catcher Karlee Ford. With Ford’s first collegiate home run, Iowa State profited and scored two runs.

“Oh gosh, it feels amazing,” Ford said. “The past couple of hits have been so short, so It feels so great to finally get one.”

The next bout of offense for the Cyclones came in the bottom of the fourth, when they profited off of an error to score two runs.

Junior center fielder Tatum Johnson scored off of the error with sophomore outfielder Ireland Buss right behind to take a 4-1 lead.

“I just had to trust my preparation, and that’s what I did. I just felt comfortable,” Johnson said.

Following the two-run score after a change-up pitch by BYU in the same inning, junior outfielder Reagan Bartholomew scored. In Bartholomew’s season debut, she found a way to come up big where it was needed to hold the lead.

The defense slipped a little, which allowed two runs for the Cougars, but in the end, the Cyclones took the win.

Head Coach Jamie Pinkerton emphasized the importance of getting into the flow of things.

“You can watch things on video, and you can try to simulate it on the machine and things like that, and then sometimes you just gotta get in the game,” Pinkerton said.

As the game closed out, Pinkerton felt good about the team’s performance.

“We’re doing a good job having all three facets together,” Pinkerton said.

Iowa State will be back in action at 4 p.m. Friday in the second game of the three game set against BYU. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.