Cyclones Close Out UNI Tournament with a Win

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The Iowa State softball team (2-3) defeated Northern Iowa 8-2 on the final day of the UNI Doc Halverson Tournament on Sunday.

UNI struck first with a run in the bottom of the second inning before Iowa State scored four runs in the top half of the third inning to reclaim the lead for good.

Sophie Maras and Ashley Minor scored in the third inning because of a passed ball and a single by Carli Spelhaug. After Spelhaug's single, Angelina Allen cleared the bases with a 2-run home run to make it 4-1 Cyclones.

ISU's second four-run inning came in the top half of the fifth inning when Maras, Minor and McKenna Andrews combined to drive in four runs and extend Iowa State's lead to 8-2.

Saya Swain led the way in the circle for the Cyclones. Swain pitched 4.2 innings without surrendering a hit.

How It Happened

Iowa State went down in order in the top of the first.
Jaiden Ralston made her first career start for the Cyclones.
- In the first inning, Ralston forced two Panthers to pop out and recorded a strikeout.
Milaysia Ochoa recorded the first hit of the game after she singled to left field.
- Ochoa was later caught stealing.
After three Panthers reached base in the second inning, Tatum Johnson replaced Jaiden Ralston in the circle.
- UNI scored one run in the second inning.
ISU scored four runs in the third frame.
- Sophie Maras led off the third inning with a single to right field.
- Ashley Minor was hit by a pitch.
  - Maras advanced to second base and gave the Cyclones its first runner in scoring position.
- McKenna Andrews advanced Maras and Minor on a groundout to third base.
- Maras scored on a passed ball to tie it 1-1.
- Carli Spelhaug drove in Ashley Minor with an RBI single to left field to give ISU a 2-1 lead.
- Angelina Allen hit her first home run of 2023 to make it 4-1.
The Panthers added a run in the third to make it 4-2.
With two outs in the fourth, ISU put together a couple of hits to put runners on base.
- ISU failed to score any runs in the fourth inning.
Saya Swain replaced Tatum Johnson in the circle in the fifth inning.
- Swain recorded two ground outs and a strikeout in her first frame of work.
ISU plated four runs in the top of the fifth inning.
- Mikayla Ramos reached base after singling to right field.
- Alesia Ranches singled to center field.
  - Ramos advanced to second base.
- Malaysia Ochoa pinch hit and reached on a fielder's choice.
  - Ochoa then stole second base.
- Tiana Poole walked to load the bases for Iowa State.
- Sophie Maras drove in Ramos with an RBI single.
- Ashley Minor drove in Ochoa with another RBI single.
- McKenna Andrews drove in two runs with a two out two-RBI single to make it 8-2.
UNI didn't record a run in the bottom of the fifth.
ISU led off the top of the sixth with a walk but a fly out and a double play ended the Cyclone opportunity.
The Cyclones went down in order in the top of the seventh inning.
Saya Swain closed the door on a Panther comeback in the seventh.
- Swain forced two ground outs and a strikeout in the final frame.

On Deck:
The Cyclones will travel to Fresno, California next week to play in the Fresno State Kickoff Classic Tournament. ISU will face Fresno State, UIC and Seattle over the course of three days.

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Team Stats

Mikayla Ramos

Sophie Maras

Ashley Minor

McKenna Andrews

Players Mentioned

Angelina Allen

McKenna Andrews

Tatum Johnson

Sophie Maras

Ashley Minor

Milaysia Ochoa

Tiana Poole

Jaiden Ralston

Mikayla Ramos

Alesia Ranches

Carli Spelhaug

Saya Swain

Players Mentioned

Angelina Allen

McKenna Andrews

Tatum Johnson

Sophie Maras

Ashley Minor

Milaysia Ochoa

Tiana Poole

Jaiden Ralston

Mikayla Ramos

Alesia Ranches

Carli Spelhaug

Saya Swain

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