Cyclones Split Two At Orange And Black Challenge

MACON, Ga. – The Iowa State softball team (11-5 overall) split a pair of games on Friday at Mercer's Orange and Black Challenge. The Cyclones opened the day with an 11-3 victory over Fordham, followed by a 9-3 loss to Mercer.

Game One: Iowa State 11, Fordham 3
For the fourth-consecutive game, Iowa State struck first and got on the scoreboard in the opening inning. Brittany Gomez singled to lead things off, followed by a walk for Cathlin Bingham. Senior Aly Cappaert came to the plate with no outs and smashed a home run to right field to give the Cyclones a 3-0 advantage right off the bat. It was the fifth home run of the season for Cappaert, who is now tied for the Big 12 lead in homers.

The Rams responded in the top of the second inning, as first baseman Madison Shaw hit a solo home run to lead off the inning and cut the ISU lead to 3-1. In the top of the third, Emma Hylen entered to pitch in relief of starter Savannah Sanders. Sanders went 2.2 innings, giving up one run on just three hits, to go with a strikeout.

Fordham knotted the game at 3-3 in the top of the fourth. The Rams loaded the bases with two outs and then got a double from Sydney Canessa to bring two runs around.

Iowa State answered the bell in the bottom half of the inning, tacking three more runs on the board to re-take the lead. Sammie Hildreth got an RBI single to score freshman Kirsten Caudle from third. Hildreth's hit also advanced Kelsey McFarland to third base. McFarland then scored on an error by the Fordham catcher when pinch runner Katie Dukes stole second base. Bingham brought Dukes home on an RBI single to third base, as the Cyclones went back ahead, 6-3.

The Cyclones ended things with a bang in the sixth inning. McFarland got things started with a solo home run to center field to lead off the inning and put ISU ahead 7-3. Sally Woolpert, Gomez and Cappaert then singled to load the bases with two outs for Rachel Hartman. The junior smashed a grand slam to left to end the game via run rule, 11-3. It was Hartman's first home run of the season and the sixth of her career.

Game Two: Mercer 9, Iowa State 3
It was another encouraging start, as the Cyclones once again took an early lead. Gomez and Bingham started things off with singles to get aboard, followed by a walk from Cappaert to load the bases. Gomez's single made it a career-best 14-game hitting streak for the senior. The streak dates back to Iowa State's 10-1 victory over North Dakota on Feb. 13. McFarland eventually singled through the left side to bring an ISU run home before Mercer got out of the jam.

Mercer threatened to respond right back in the bottom half of the inning, loading the bases with one out. However, freshman third baseman Sally Woolpert made a fantastic unassisted double-play to end the inning. Woolpert made a diving play along the left field line to catch a hot line drive from Bear batter Emma Andrew. Woolpert then got to the third-base bag before the MU runner could get back, ending the inning.

The Bears took the lead in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs, Megan Lane walked, followed by an inside the park home run for freshman Shaila Warren. It was the second homer of her career, and put Mercer ahead 2-1 after two innings of action.

Mercer tacked three more on the board in the third, despite just one hit in the inning. The Bears drew three walks and had two batters hit by pitch in the inning as they went ahead 5-1. Emma Hylen entered midway through the inning for starter Brianna Weilbacher. Junior Mandi Moore came in for Hylen to close out the inning. A solo home run from Mercer's Emma Andrew to lead off the bottom of the sixth extended the Bear advantage to 6-1.

Iowa State was able to plate two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Kaylee Bosworth had an RBI sac fly to right with the bases loaded and one out to score Antillon. McFarland came home shortly after on a Mercer wild pitch to cut the MU lead to 6-3.

However, Mercer scored three in the bottom half of the inning. UM's Lyndsay Boynton got things started with a two-run homer. The Bears tacked one more on the board via an Iowa State error for the 9-3 final score.

On Deck
Iowa State will face Boston College on Saturday for day two of the Orange and Black Challenge. The Cyclones and Eagles will play at 9 a.m. at Sikes Field. The teams will then be re-bracketed and Iowa State will play again at either 1:30 p.m. or 3:45 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Cathlin Bingham

Kaylee Bosworth

Aly Cappaert

Kirsten Caudle

Katie Dukes

Brittany Gomez

Rachel Hartman

Sammie Hildreth

Emma Hylen

Kelsey McFarland

Mandi Moore

Savannah Sanders

Brianna Weilbacher

Sally Woolpert

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics