Cyclones Face Challenge at Louisville Slugger Invitational

Iowa State returns to the Golden State this weekend for the Louisville Slugger Invitational, hosted by Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton. In addition to the host schools, the Cyclones will also square off against Boston, UCF and Sacramento State. ISU opens the tournament against Boston Friday at 1:30 p.m. (CT).

The Matchup: Louisville Slugger Invitational
Where: LBSU Softball Complex / Long Beach, Calif. | Anderson Family Field / Fullerton, Calif.
When: Friday, March 11 - Sunday, March 13
Watch: ESPN+ (vs. Cal State Fullerton)
Live Stats: Cyclones.com

Tournament Schedule (All Times Central)
*vs. Boston - 3/11, 1:30 p.m.
*vs. Long Beach State - 3/11, 4 p.m.
^vs. UCF - 3/12, 2 p.m.
^vs. Cal State Fullerton - 3/12, 7 p.m.
^vs. Sacramento State - 3/13, Noon

*Long Beach, Calif.
^Fullerton, Calif.

Key Storylines

Including the Cyclones, four teams in the Louisville Slugger Invitational made an NCAA regional last season (Boston, UCF, Long Beach State). ISU already owns a pair of wins over two teams that made a regional last season (SDSU, UNI).
Iowa State looks to get back on track after dropping six of its last 10 games. The Cyclones finished 2-3 at the Wildcat Invitational last weekend, notching wins over North Dakota and Loyola-Chicago.
Five of ISU's games have been decided by two runs or less or less this season. The Cyclones are 1-4 in such games.
The Cyclones are averaging 6.74 runs per game, which ranks 21st in the nation.
Iowa State is one of two teams with two players in the top 10 nationally in runs per game (ISU, Florida). Mikayla Ramos and Carli Spelhaug are both averaging 1.32 runs/game, ranking seventh in the country.
ISU has hung its hat on the long ball early this season with 25 home runs on the year, an average of 1.32 per contest (T-18 nationally). Iowa State's single-season home run record has been set in each of Pinkerton's three full seasons as head coach (2018 - 45, 2019 - 48, 2021 - 64). The Cyclones are currently two ahead of the 19-game pace from last season.
The Cyclones have hit 38 doubles this season, the sixth-most nationally. Milaysia Ochoa paces ISU with six two-baggers on the year.
Of Iowa State's 152 hits this season, 69 of them have gone for extra bases (45 percent).
Mikayla Ramos has been lights-out at the plate to begin the season. The catcher ranks second in the country in home runs (10) and is third nationally in RBIs (29) and total bases (61). Fourteen of her 26 hits this season have gone for extra bases.
Ramos has logged 29 RBIs through 19 games this season, the second-most in the country. Last season, Ramos batted in 57 runs to break Iowa State's single-season RBI record. By comparison, Ramos had 17 RBIs through 19 games in 2021.
Ellie Spelhaug has matched her career high in strikeouts (6) in three of her last four starts, including games against No. 6 UCLA and No. 5 Washington.

Cyclones Face Challenge at Louisville Slugger Invitational

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Milaysia Ochoa

Mikayla Ramos

Carli Spelhaug

Ellie Spelhaug

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics

Cyclones Face Challenge at Louisville Slugger Invitational

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Milaysia Ochoa

Mikayla Ramos

Carli Spelhaug

Ellie Spelhaug

Related Videos

Sponsors