Upcoming Event: Softball versus DMACC on September 17, 2025 at 4 p.m.
4 p.m.
Softball
DMACC
Iowa State University Athletics
Friday, February 21
Columbia, S.C.
4:30 PM
Iowa State University
vs
Elon
Cyclones To Face Strong Field At Gamecock Invitational
02.20.2020 | Softball
AMES, Iowa - The Iowa State softball team is headed to Columbia, S.C. for the 2020 Gamecock Invitational. Due to weather-related travel issues, the tournament's schedule has been changed.
Updated 2020 Gamecock Invitational Schedule
Friday, Feb. 21 – Iowa State vs. Elon (4:30 p.m. CT)
Saturday, Feb. 22 – Iowa State vs. No. 8 Michigan (11:30 a.m. CT)
Saturday, Feb. 22 – No. 22 South Carolina vs. Iowa State (7:00 p.m. CT)
Sunday, Feb. 23 – Boston College vs. Iowa State (12:30 p.m. CT)
Where: Columbia, S.C. – Carolina Softball Stadium
When:Â Feb. 21-23
Live Stats: Available here.
Live Stream:Â Only available for Iowa State vs. South Carolina - LINK
CYCLONE NOTEBOOK
1. Sami Williams is on the verge of making more Cyclone history. The native of Laguna Niguel, Calif. is just two home runs shy of breaking Iowa State's all-time career mark of 42, currently held by Cyclone great Tori Torrescano (2010-13).
2. Williams was named the Most Valuable Player of the Paradise Classic after an outstanding opening weekend in Honolulu. Williams went 6-of-18 at the plate with four home runs, two doubles, six runs scored and 13 RBI.
3. After two weeks of action, Williams ranks among the nation's leaders in RBI (No. 16 - 15) and home runs (T-No. 24 - 4). Williams is the NCAA's active leader in career doubles, and is already the Big 12's all-time doubles leader with 62.
4. Iowa State has the youngest pitching staff in the nation in 2020, and pitching coach Kate Sinnott has done a masterful job with her bullpen. All 70.1 innings of work in the circle so far this season have been handled by the freshman trio of Karlie Charles, Janessa Jasso and Ellie Spelhaug. The group has a combined ERA of 3.09, and allow opponents to hit just .240. Iowa State has not had a staff ERA lower than 3.25 since 2009.
5. Freshman Carli Spelhaug was a bright spot for the Cyclones during a 1-4 weekend at the Knights Classic in Orlando. Splehaug hit a team-leading .333 on the weekend, highlighted by a 2-for-3 outing with a home run and a triple vs. Penn State.
6. Carli Spelhaug has made an impact for the Cyclones on the base paths. The native of Bettendorf, Iowa, is tied for first in the Big 12 with six stolen bases on six attempts. She also has Iowa State's lone triple this season. Iowa State ranks No. 3 in the Big 12 with 10 stolen bases.
7. Ellie Spelhaug has been tremendous in the circle for the Iowa State. Highlighted by a complete game, one-hit shutout in her first career start vs. Northern Colorado, Spelhaug's return to softball after a season of collegiate basketball (at Bradley University) is off to a terrific start.
8. Ellie Spelhaug is leading Iowa State's pitching staff in ERA (2.16) and opponent batting average (.165) in 22.2 innings of action. Her outing vs. Northern Colorado was the first complete-game one-hitter by a Cyclone pitcher since Feb. 24, 2019 (Tatum Ksiazek vs. Dartmouth).
9. Through two weeks of action, Iowa State leads the Big 12 and ranks T-No. 22 nationally in walks drawn. Senior Hannah Carter leads the way with seven walks - ranking T-No. 2 in the conference - and also boasts a team-leading .471 on-base percentage.
10. Iowa State concluded its 2019 campaign with a record of 37-25 overall (7-11 Big 12) and as runners-up in the National Invitational Softball Championship, falling 4-3 to Loyola Marymount in the tournament finals. It was program's winningest season since 1982, and tied for the second-winningest season of all-time.
11. The Cyclones' NISC bid marked the program's first time in a national postseason tournament since 1988, when Iowa State advanced to NCAA Regionals in Lincoln, Neb.
12. Head coach Jamie Pinkerton has already piled up 65 wins at Iowa State. Pinkerton's 60 combined wins in 2018 and 2019 were the most ever by a Cyclone head coach in their first two seasons at the program's helm.
13. Williams was named a Softball America Preseason All-American, and was also ranked the No. 34 player in the country by the outlet. Williams was named an Honorable Mention All-American by Softball America following an outstanding junior campaign, becoming the first Cyclone softball player since Jenny Condon in 1989 to earn All-America honors.
15. Williams finished the 2019 campaign as the NCAA DI doubles leader with 25 on the season. She set Iowa State single-season records for hits (82), doubles (25), home runs (17) and runs scored (59) during her historic 2019 campaign.
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
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