Cyclones Split Doubleheader on Marathon Saturday

SAN DIEGO – The Iowa State softball team battled to a doubleheader split at the San Diego Classic Saturday afternoon and evening. The Cyclones started the day by taking down Cal Poly in one of the longest games in school history, defeating the Mustangs 4-3 in 12 innings. ISU then fell to hosts San Diego State 3-0 in the night cap. After today, ISU is now 11-4 on the season, Cal Poly is 8-11 and SDSU is 11-6.

Game One: Iowa State 4 Cal Poly 3 (12 innings)
The only runs for either side in regular action came in the third inning. Cal Poly got the scoreboard ticking as Amanda Sandoval recorded a solo home run off Katie Johnson to make it 1-0 Mustangs. ISU instantly responded as Brittany Gomez led off the inning with an infield single. Two batters later, Lexi Slater tied it up with an RBI-single to right-center field.

The scoreboard stayed on zeroes for the rest of the regular game and into extra innings as the international rule, placing a runner on second before the start of each half inning went into effect starting in the ninth inning. In the 10th, Cal Poly put the pressure on the Cyclones to get going as the Mustangs got an RBI single from Stephanie Heyward to bring in the inherited runner, Courntey Tyler to make it 2-1. ISU responded as Gomez got an RBI-single that brought in Paris Imholz, who was running for a hobbled Rachel Hartman to tie it again.

Both teams missed many chances, as a combined 29 runners were left on base throughout the game. That factor came to a head in the 12th inning as Cal Poly got back ahead 3-2 via a bases-loaded walk issues by Johnson to Heyward. After 233 pitches, Johnson was done for the day. In came Stacy Roggentien, who got Chelsea Convissar to ground into a fielder's choice and leave the bases loaded.

Iowa State got right to work as Jorden Spendlove reached on an error and Gabby Voulgaris drove in her first career RBI on a single that brought home the inherited runner, Aly Cappaert. After a sacrifice bunt to put both runners in scoring position, Gomez sent the Cyclones to victory with an RBI fielder's choice to short, as the throw home to get Spendlove was off-target and ISU left 4-3 winners.

The last time ISU played a game of at least 12 innings came in 2009, when Iowa State won at Missouri State in 13 innings.

Game Two: San Diego State 3 Iowa State 0
The Aztecs were first onto the boards in the bottom of the second as designated player Lorena Bauer led off the inning with a base hit. Two batters later Bauer's pinch runner, Victoria Kobold, was brought home via an RBI-single by Taylor Stewart.

The Cyclones were able to mount an immediate threat as Rachel Hartman and Sammie Hildreth kicked off the inning with back-to-back singles. Two batters later, Kelsey McFarland fired a single to right and the decision was made to send Hartman home. However, Hayley Miles' throw was on target to get Hartman at the plate and keep ISU off the board, extinguishing the threat.

SDSU was able to up its lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth as catcher Jenavee Peres fired a home run off the bleachers in left field.

Iowa State mounted a small rally in the seventh as Nychole Antillon got a two-out single and Jorden Spendlove drew a walk. However, Hartman grounded out to third to end the rally and the game in favor of the Aztecs.

On Deck
Iowa State closes out the San Diego Classic tomorrow against Grand Canyon back at the USD Softball Complex. First pitch between the Cyclones and Antelopes is slated for 9 a.m. local time, 11 a.m. Central.

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Players Mentioned

Nychole Antillon

Aly Cappaert

Aly Cappaert

Brittany Gomez

Brittany Gomez

Rachel Hartman

Rachel Hartman

Sammie Hildreth

Paris Imholz

Paris Imholz

Katie Johnson

Katie Johnson

Kelsey McFarland

Stacy Roggentien

Stacy Roggentien

Lexi Slater

Lexi Slater

Jorden Spendlove

Jorden Spendlove

Gabby Voulgaris

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