Who: Iowa State (11-14, 1-2 Massive 12) at UCF (20-11-1, 3-3 Massive 12)
The place: UCF Softball Advanced – Orlando, Fla.
When: March 20, 5 pm CT // March 21, 5 pm CT // March 22, 11 am CT
Main Off
After taking a one-weekend break from convention play to take part within the Insurgent Invitational, Iowa State will bounce again into convention play this weekend because it heads to UCF. The Cyclones will formally shut a 28-game highway streak this weekend as they’re set to host ASU subsequent weekend.
The Cyclones are at present within the midst of a 10-day highway journey, as they departed for Oxford, Miss. on March 13 earlier than flying straight to Florida for the UCF collection, because the workforce is on spring break. Final weekend, ISU took half within the Insurgent Invitational, going 1-3 on the match with a win over Samford.
After going to Tucson and taking two-of-three from then No. 4 Arizona, UCF dropped final weekend’s collection to Arizona State at house, 1-2. The Knights will look to maneuver above .500 and reenter the NFCA rankings because the workforce is simply receiving votes this week.
From the Notes:
- ISU is on the tail finish of spending seven straight weekends on the highway to start out the season.
- The workforce will play video games 26, 27 and 28 away from house at UCF.
- After having 11 seniors go away, ISU solely has two on this yr’s roster. Over half of the workforce, 14, are underclassmen.
- ISU’s most incessantly featured lineup has had 5 newcomers within the fold.
- Solely 4 gamers are over the age of 21.
- 2025 marks the start of a brand new Massive 12 enlargement, as three new faculties – Arizona, Arizona State and Utah – all enter the fray.
- Freshman Jessie Clemons is likely one of the finest hitting rookies within the nation, as she at present ranks within the prime 10 for batting common (.405 – twentieth), doubles (8 – T8th) and hits (34 – T8th) amongst all collegiate freshmen.
- Freshman Abby Huhn tossed a one-hit shutout in her first profession begin, falling two outs shy of an ideal sport in opposition to Portland State.
- Freshman pitcher Sami Potvin hurled a five-inning good sport in opposition to Grambling State, hanging out a career-high 9 batters.
Main the Cyclones
Iowa State’s prime half of the order has performed the vast majority of the heavy lifting this season and is led by a pair of freshmen on the prime. Jessie Clemons (.405) and Sereniti Trice (.369) lead the workforce in batting common and hits. The workforce chief in OB% although is returning All-American Angelina Allen who slashes .346/.430/.568. Allen owns 12 walks, a workforce excessive.
Rounding out the 4 and 5 spots are one other pair of newcomers – transfers Sydney Malott and Reagan Bartholomew. Malott has a team-best 5 house runs, tying her profession single-season excessive. Bartholomew’s 18 RBI are the third-most on the workforce and he or she is one among eight Cyclones with double-digit hits.
Within the circle, 5 Cyclones have seen motion. Lauren Schurman leads the way in which with a team-low ERA of two.94. Schurman has hurled 62 innings, a team-high, and owns 40 punchouts, additionally a workforce excessive. Jaiden Ralston has 5 begins in 18 appearances with 27 strikeouts. Freshmen Abby Huhn and Sami Potvin have been strong, as every has two wins.
General, the Cyclones are hitting .288 and have produced 126 runs on 198 hits. The workforce has 67 extra-base hits with 114 RBI, whereas drawing 64 walks. ISU holds a collective 4.67 ERA and has allowed 208 hits in 156.0 innings of labor.
Opponent Outlook
UCF’s offense options six gamers with not less than 20 hits, whereas Sierra Humphreys leads the way in which with 34 hits as she’s the one Knight with over 30 knocks. Six Knights have double-figure RBI with Beth Damon main the way in which with 19.
The Knights do the vast majority of their injury by doubles, solely proudly owning 14 homers and 5 triples. The workforce has three gamers (Izzy Mertes, Humphreys and Stormy Kotzelnick) throughout the prime 5 doubles totals within the convention.
Like Iowa State, UCF retains a good rotation within the circle as solely six gamers have seen motion this season. Kaitlyn Felton and Yessenia Lopez every have over 62 innings of labor as Felton owns a staggering 0.79 ERA throughout 17 appearances. The Knights have received with dominant pitching, as three hurlers have under-four ERAs.
General, the Knights are hitting .282 and have produced 127 runs on 225 hits. The workforce has 62 extra-base hits with 111 RBI, whereas drawing 65 walks. UCF holds a collective 2.65 ERA and has allowed 195 hits in 209 innings of labor.
Sequence Historical past
The Cyclones and Knights have met eight occasions previous to this weekend, with the one earlier three-game collection coming final yr in Ames. As convention foes, UCF holds the benefit, 2-1. General, the Knights lead the collection 6-2. All eight conferences between the groups have come within the final 9 seasons and 4 of the eight conferences have been determined through run-rule.
On Deck
Iowa State will lastly open its house marketing campaign this coming weekend because it returns to the Cyclone Sports activities Advanced to host Arizona State. The Cyclones will meet the Solar Devils at house for the primary time ever with all earlier conferences both coming in Tempe or at a impartial website. Motion in opposition to the Solar Devils begins March 28 at 4 p.m.
