Upcoming Event: Softball versus DMACC on September 17, 2025 at 4 p.m.
4 p.m.
Softball
DMACC
Iowa State University Athletics
Saturday, February 29
Kennesaw, Ga.
2:00 PM
Iowa State University
9-8
3
at
4
Kennesaw State
16-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Iowa State
2
0
0
0
1
0
0
3
11
0
Kennesaw State
0
2
0
1
0
1
X
4
9
0
Cyclones Victorious In Game Two At Kennesaw State
02.29.2020 | Softball
KENNESAW, Ga. – Iowa State (10-8) split a doubleheader vs. Kennesaw State (16-3) on Saturday at the I-75 Challenge. The Cyclones dropped a 4-3 nail-biter to open the day before rebounding to defeat the Owls 7-4 in game two.
Sophomore Kasey Simpson went 4-of-4 with two RBI to lead the Cyclones in game two, while freshman Alesia Ranches hit the second home run of her career.
Kennesaw State 4, Iowa State 3
Freshman Carli Spelhaug got Saturday's doubleheader started with a bang, crushing a lead-off home run to right center to open the top of the first inning. Later in the inning, Mikayla Ramos notched a two-out single. She then raced home to score on an RBI double from Logan Schaben, extending the Cyclone lead to 2-0.
The Owls answered back with a pair of runs in the home half of the second inning to tie the game. Jade Lee collected a base hit, followed by a two-run home run by Taylor Cates to even the score. Following a scoreless third inning, Cates would strike again with a two-out RBI double, bringing teammate Katie Greep in to score, making it a 3-2 Owl lead.
Schaben gave the Cyclones a lift once again in the top of the fifth. The senior notched a lead-off single to right field, and then made a heads-up play, advancing to second when she caught the Owl defense off-guard. She then advanced to third on a Ramos base hit, and scored on a ground ball from Simpson, tying the game at 3-3.
A Jade Lee RBI double in the bottom of the sixth would prove to be the difference, scoring Andrea Summey to put the Owls back in front, 4-3.
Iowa State 7, Kennesaw State 4
The Owls got off to a fast start in game two, plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. KSU tallied RBI base hits from Lexi Solorzano and Lee to grab the early momentum.
Cyclone starting pitcher Ellie Spelhaug was phenomenal from that point forward, and was backed by a strong defensive effort. Spelhaug kept a dangerous Owl offensive attack in check throughout the night, ringing up four strikeouts in 7.0 innings of work. Kennesaw State left eight runners stranded, as Spelhaug was exceptional in tight situations with runners on base.
Freshman Alesia Ranches quieted the Kennesaw State crowd in the ensuing inning. Second baseman Kasey Simpson singled up the middle to open the frame. Ranches then stepped into the box and launched a two-run home run to center field. It was the second home run of the Ewa Beach, Hawaii native's career, and tied the game at 2-2.
KSU regained the lead briefly on a Lee RBI single in the bottom of the third before the Cyclones took over. Hannah Carter opened the top of the fourth with a base hit, followed by a Skyler Ramos walk. With two away, Simpson came up clutch with a two-RBI single up the middle to give Iowa State their first lead of the game at 4-3.
It was more of the same in the top of the fifth, as the Cyclones put together a two-out rally. Carter and Ramos both drew walks, followed by a Carli Spelhaug RBI single through the left side. Williams then came to the plate and crushed a two-RBI double to center field, extending the lead to 7-3.
KSU got a run back in the home half of the inning on a Kylie Vannavong RBI double to center field. However, Ellie Spelhaug worked her way out of the inning once again to retain the 7-4 advantage.
The freshman pitcher from Bettendorf, Iowa slammed the door emphatically from that point forward. Her defense rolled up a 1-2-3 inning in the sixth, and turned a 6-3 double play in the seventh to seal the deal. With the win, Spelhaug improved to 4-3 on the season.
On Deck
Iowa State closes the I-75 Challenge on Sunday with a 12 p.m. CT first pitch vs. Georgia State in Atlanta, Ga.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bennett,Melanie (3-2)
L: Charles, Karlie (2-4)
Batting:
2B: Spelhaug, Carli 1 ; Simpson, Kasey 1
HR: Spelhaug, Carli 1
RBI: Spelhaug, Carli 1 ; Simpson, Kasey 2
SH: Schaben, Logan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Spelhaug, Carli 1 ; Schaben, Logan 1 ; Ramos, Mikayla 1
CS: Ramos, Skyler 1
HBP: Ramos, Skyler 1
Batting:
2B: Lee,Jade 1 ; Cates,Taylor 1
HR: Cates,Taylor 1
RBI: Lee,Jade 1 ; Cates,Taylor 3
SH: Greep,Katie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Summey,Andrea 1 ; Greep,Katie 1 ; Lee,Jade 1 ; Cates,Taylor 1
SB: Dickey,Brea 1 ; Greep,Katie 1 ; Lee,Jade 1 ; Alexander,Faith 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
OF
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
UTL
/ SoftballIF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballUTL
/ Softball
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