Who: Iowa State (26-19, 11-7 Huge 12) at Utah (12-34, 4-14 Huge 12)
The place: Dumke Household Softball Stadium (1,410) – Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah
When: April 25 – 6 p.m. // April 26 – 1 p.m. // April 27 – 12 p.m.
Main Off
Within the midst of its finest 20-game stretch (15-5) since 2021, Iowa State will look to earn its fifth Huge 12 collection win of the season because it heads to Salt Lake Metropolis to tackle the Utah Utes. The collection marks ISU’s penultimate highway journey of the common season, and will ISU earn two wins, the group will safe simply its second-ever profitable convention file (1987).
Iowa State at present sits tied for fourth within the Huge 12 standings coming into its seventh convention collection because it goals for a top-five end to earn a first-round bye. ISU has climbed to No. 54 within the RPI rankings and appears to proceed the ascent because the postseason is simply across the nook.
After qualifying for postseason play final season and making the Duke Regional, Utah has had a down first season within the Huge 12. The Utes, of their fiftieth season of collegiate softball, have a younger roster just like the Cyclones, as solely eight gamers are upperclassmen.
From the Notes:
- The Cyclones spent the primary seven weeks of the season away from the Cyclone Softball Complicated, enjoying 28 straight video games on the highway or at a impartial website.
- March 28 was the most recent season-opener since 2022. That squad did not play at house till April 6.
- Iowa State went 1-2 in its first Huge 12 collection, taking the opening recreation in opposition to Houston. For ISU, it was this system’s first Huge 12-opening win since 2006.
- Iowa State earned its first highway Huge 12 sweep since 2019 in Orlando, defeating UCF in three straight video games. The highway collection sweep additionally occurred to be the group’s first since 2021.
- Iowa State snapped a seven-game skid to Arizona State in its third convention collection, besting the Solar Devils for the primary time since 1998, incomes a second-straight Huge 12 collection win.
- For the Cyclones, it was their first back-to-back Huge 12 collection victory since 2023, after they downed Baylor and Kansas to shut the season.
- ISU took recreation one of many convention collection in opposition to BYU, marking 4 straight collection with a series-opening win.
- The Cyclones earned their first highway collection win over a ranked opponent at No. 17 Oklahoma State, taking the collection 2-1.
- The rubber match win over the Cowgirls gave ISU its ninth convention win of the season, setting a brand new program single-season excessive.
- The win additionally gave ISU its third convention collection win of the season – probably the most in a single season at school historical past.
- Iowa State ran its profitable streak over in-state foe Iowa to 5 on April 15, beating the Hawkeyes 9-5. The 14 mixed runs had been probably the most in a Cy-Hawk recreation since 2012.
- ISU took two of three video games on Easter weekend to assert its fourth convention collection win of the season.
- After having 11 seniors go away, ISU solely has two on this 12 months’s roster. Over half of the group, 14, are underclassmen.
- Of Iowa State’s most-used lineup this season, only one place participant began over 50 p.c of final 12 months’s video games (Angelina Allen).
- Solely 4 gamers are over the age of 21.
- Freshman pitcher Sami Potvin hurled a five-inning good recreation in opposition to Grambling State, hanging out a career-high 9 batters.
Main the Cyclones
The Cyclone offense is led by a pair of freshmen in Jessie Clemons and Sereniti Trice. Clemons leads the group in batting common (.383), hits (57) and doubles (12), whereas Trice leads the squad in runs scored (40) and stolen bases (14) as the 2 are tied for probably the most hits on the group (49).
Rounding out ISU’s offensive assault are returning All-American Angelina Allen, who has probably the most walks on the group (25), Sydney Malott, who leads the group in house runs (10), Reagan Bartholomew who leads the group in RBI (34) and Tatum Johnson, who leads the group in OPS with a 1.158.
Within the circle, 5 Cyclones have seen motion. Lauren Schurman leads the way in which with a team-low ERA of three.39. Schurman has hurled 117.2 innings, a team-high, and owns 60 punchouts, additionally a team-high. Jaiden Ralston has 10 begins in 35 appearances with 48 strikeouts. Freshmen Abby Huhn and Sami Potvin have additionally seen time, as every has a number of wins on the 12 months.
General, the Cyclones are hitting .290 and have produced 220 runs on 347 hits. The group has 110 extra-base hits with 202 RBI, whereas drawing 127 walks. ISU holds a collective 4.66 ERA and has allowed 371 hits in 289.2 innings of labor.
Opponent Outlook
The Utah bats are spearheaded by senior Kaylah Nelsen. Nelsen, who, with two different Utes, will probably be celebrating Senior Evening over the weekend. She leads the group in at-bats, runs scored, hits, doubles, complete bases and has solely struck out 3 times this season.
Different distinguished members of the Utah assault are Shonty Passi, who’s second on the group in batting common, runs scored, hits, and RBI, and Kennedy Proctor, who owns probably the most RBI on the group with 25.
The Utes tote a five-pitcher employees that’s led by three arms. Hailey Maestretti has logged probably the most innings of labor, hurling 114.1 frames, and owns a team-low ERA of three.73. Shelbee Jones leads the squad in strikeouts, totaling 88, and permits opposing hitters to bat simply .275 off of her. The ultimate mainstay within the bullpen in Brooklyn Carreon, who has seen motion in 26 video games, making 12 begins.
General, the Utes are hitting .272 and have produced 200 runs on 345 hits. The group has 90 extra-base hits with 180 RBI, whereas drawing 150 walks. Utah holds a collective 4.67 ERA and has allowed 389 hits in 306.0 innings of labor.
Sequence Historical past
Iowa State and Utah have met simply 9 occasions previous to this weekend, because the Utes maintain the all-time benefit, 6-3. This weekend will function a house/away facet for the primary time in collection historical past, because the earlier 9 conferences all got here at a impartial website. The Cyclones and Utes will probably be assembly for the primary time as convention foes – ISU is 2-1 in opposition to league newcomers this season (2-1 vs. Arizona State).
On Deck
After its remaining convention highway journey of the season, Iowa State will return to Iowa for a pair of in-state midweek contests. ISU will head to Iowa Metropolis to face Iowa on April 29 earlier than returning to the CSC to face Drake on April 30. Tuesday’s recreation at Iowa is about to start at 5:30 and will probably be streamed stay on Huge Ten Plus.
