Hildreth Lifts Cyclones To 7-2 Victory In Game Two

AMES, Iowa - The Iowa State softball team (14-14 overall) split a pair of games with North Dakota State (18-12) on Saturday at the Cyclone Sports Complex. Senior catcher Sammie Hildreth was the hero in game two of the day, smashing a pair of three-run home runs to push the Cyclones past the Bison, 7-2

The performance marked a new career-high for Hildreth with six total RBIs in the game. It was also the first multi-home run game of her career.

Game One: North Dakota State 4, Iowa State 1
Cyclone starter Savannah Sanders got off to an excellent start against the Bison in ISU's first true home game of the season. Sanders shut down the NDSU attack throughout the first five innings of the game, giving up just one hit while striking out six batters in the opening five frames.

Offensively, what looked to be a promising start for the Cardinal & Gold turned out to be a mirage. Brittany Gomez and Cathlin Bingham both singled to lead off the game, putting ISU runners on first and second with no outs. However, the Cyclones were unable to capitalize on the opportunity. It would prove to be the last time Iowa State recorded multiple hits in the same inning.

The Bison finally broke through in the top of the sixth inning. With runners on second and third, Zoe Stavrou hit a sacrifice fly to right, bringing Jenna Isbel around to score as NDSU took a 1-0 lead. Alyssa Reina then came to the plate and hit a three-run home run, as the Cyclones fell into a 4-0 hole.

Freshman Kaylee Bosworth helped close the gap with a solo shot in the ensuing inning for the Cyclones. The Manvel, Texas, native crushed one over the fence in left-center that bounced off the scoreboard for the first home run of her career. However, 4-1 was as close as the Cyclones would get in the opening game of the day.

Game Two: Iowa State 7, North Dakota State 2
The Bison got out to a lead in the second game as well, as they put a run on the board in both the second and third innings. Isbel recorded an RBI on a ground out to second, scoring teammate Julia Luciano. However, ISU starter Emma Hylen got out of the jam with a fly out with NDSU runners on second and third, avoiding any further damage. Logan Moreland then put the Bison up 2-0 with a solo home run to center to lead off the third inning.

As the rain began to fall harder, it became clear the Cyclones needed some offense, as it became increasingly unlikely the game would go a full seven innings. They got just that in the bottom of the fourth. Bosworth walked to lead things off, followed by Sally Woolpert reaching on an NDSU error. Hildreth then stepped to the plate, and gave the Cyclones their first lead of the day with one swing of the bat. The senior's three-run shot to left put ISU ahead 3-2 through four innings of action.

After Hylen and the ISU defense shut down NDSU in the top of the fifth, the Cyclones were back for more in the home half of the frame. Bosworth collected another RBI on the day with a single to right, scoring pinch runner Katie Dukes from third.

With two outs, Hildreth stepped to the plate and launched her second home run of the day to left, extending the Iowa State lead to 7-2. The three-run shot marked the first multi-home run game of her career, and solidified the Cyclone win, as the game would be called due to weather later in the inning.

Cyclone of the Day
Sammie Hildreth. The senior's heroics lifted Iowa State past North Dakota State in the second game of the day. She set a new career high with six RBIs in the game and smashed a pair of home runs en route to the 7-2 victory after entering the day with three homers in her ISU career.

On Deck
Iowa State will face Indiana State on Wed., March 30 at the Cyclone Sports Complex. The Cyclones and Sycamores are set for a doubleheader at 2 & 4 p.m. CT.

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Players Mentioned

Cathlin Bingham

Kaylee Bosworth

Katie Dukes

Brittany Gomez

Sammie Hildreth

Emma Hylen

Savannah Sanders

Sally Woolpert

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