Who: Iowa State vs. Utah Valley/No. 11 Duke/No. 7 Washington/Lengthy Seashore State
The place: Nancy Almaraz Subject – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
When: Feb. 8/9/10/11 – 4 p.m./10 a.m./4 p.m./9:30 a.m.
Main Off
The Iowa State Cyclone softball program will kick off the 2024 season this weekend in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, as a part of the Puerto Vallarta School Problem. This weekend’s event will match the Cyclones up with three groups who certified for NCAA regional play final yr in addition to two top-15 applications.
ISU will make its first-ever look within the Puerto Vallarta Problem because it turns into the ultimate Large 12 faculty to compete within the esteemed early-season problem. Final season, BYU, Oklahoma State and Kansas all competed within the Mexico-based occasion.
Fast Hits:
- That is the beginning of 23 straight contests away from the Cyclone Sports activities Advanced, because the Cyclones shall be on the highway for the primary 5 weeks of the season.
- The senior-laden Cyclones have 13 whole upperclassmen.
- Iowa State completed the 2023 season having received 12 of its last 17 video games, defeating three ranked groups (OSU, Baylor 3x).
- This begins the primary season of an expanded Large 12 discipline, as ISU will face all three new colleges – BYU, Houston and UCF – this season.
- Assistant Coach Linsey Ubrun returned to the Cyclones this offseason after spending the final six as the pinnacle coach of Wagner School.
- She was beforehand an assistant coach at ISU from 2014-16.
Main the Cyclones
Iowa State returns 4 common starters from final season, in Milaysia Ochoa, Carli Spelhaug, Angelina Allen and Alesia Ranches. Ochoa led the squad in practically each statistical hitting class and was the one Cyclone to start out all 55 video games as she held down centerfield.
The Cyclones may have a brand new catcher, second and third baseman in addition to doubtlessly a brand new proper fielder in battles that can play out by way of the early portion of the season.
Saya Swain, Karlie Charles, Jaiden Ralston and two-way participant Tatum Johnson return within the circle for the Cyclones. Swain had a team-high 120 strikeouts final season and set a brand new faculty file for saves in a yr with six. Each Charles and Ralston need to have wholesome, pitch-count-free seasons.
Sequence Historical past
Iowa State and Utah Valley will meet for the second time ever within the competitors, with the Wolverines proudly owning a 1-0 benefit over ISU because of a 1-0 win in eight innings again in 2017.
The Cyclones and Blue Devils will meet for the primary time on the diamond in Puerto Vallarta. Iowa State will face Washington for the second time ever, having fallen quick 1-0 to the Huskies in 2022 when UW was ranked fifth.
ISU and Lengthy Seashore State have met 13 occasions previous to their upcoming matchup. LBSU holds a 10-3 all-time benefit over Iowa State, although the Cyclones have received the final two conferences.
On Deck
Iowa State will return to motion subsequent weekend, when it travels to Las Vegas for its second early season event – the UNLV Desert Basic. Subsequent weekend’s event may have the Cyclones enjoying 5 video games between three opponents – UNLV, Bradley and UC Santa Barbara.