Cyclones Drop Two In Tempe

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Iowa State softball team (6-7, 0-0), dropped a pair of games to the Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday night in Tempe. The Cyclones fell to Arizona State 2-1 in game one and fell 9-4 in game two.

Despite out-hitting the Sun Devils 5-4 in game one, Iowa State fell to Arizona State 2-1 in the front end of a doubleheader on Saturday.

Ashley Minor drove in the lone run for the Cyclones after she hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Angelica Gonzalez from third base to tie the game 1-1 in the third inning.

Jaiden Ralston struck out a career-high eight Sun Devils over the course of four innings in the circle.

Arizona State scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning to give itself a 2-1 lead entering the seventh inning. Iowa State failed to plate the tying run in the final frame.

In game two, Iowa State scored in the third inning to go up 1-0 after Milaysia Ochoa hit a solo home run over the center field wall.

In the following half-inning, Arizona State scored three runs to take a 3-1 lead and never looked back. The Sun Devils scored two runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to extend its lead to 9-1.

ISU scored one run in the fifth inning and two more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning but the comeback attempt came up short.

How It Happened (Game 1)

With two outs in the first inning, Ashley Minor was hit by a pitch to give ISU its first base runner of the day.
- ISU failed to advance Minor past first base.
Tatum Johnson made the start for ISU
Despite a two-out double, ASU was held scoreless in the first inning.
Kasey Simpson singled with one out in the top of the second to give Iowa State its first hit of the game.
- ISU failed to advance a runner past first base in the second frame.
Arizona State took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.
The Cyclones tied the game 1-1 in the third inning.
- To begin the third frame, Camille Marin was hit by a pitch.
- Sophie Maras reached on an infield single.
  - Marin advanced to second base.
- Angelina Allen advanced the runners on a fielder's choice.
- Ashley Minor came through with a sacrifice fly to score the runner from third base.
Jaiden Ralston replaced Tatum Johnson in the circle to begin the bottom of the third inning.
- Ralston recorded a strikeout and two groundouts in her first inning of work.
ASU retired the Cyclones in order in the top of the fourth inning.
Ralston posted her second-straight scoreless inning in the bottom of the fourth inning.
- In the fourth inning, Ralston forced a groundout and struck out two batters.
Despite recording three hits in the fifth inning, ISU failed to plate the go-ahead run.
In her third inning of work, Ralston struck out three Sun Devils to record her third-straight scoreless inning of work.
Even though Milaysia Ochoa led the sixth inning off with a single, ISu failed to score their second run of the game to give itself a lead.
The Sun Devils scored one run in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 2-1 lead.
In the final frame, the Cyclones drew a walk to give itself a runner on base but failed to score the tying run.

How It Happened (Game 2)

Iowa State went down in order in the first inning.
Jaiden Ralston made the start in the circle for Iowa State.
- Ralston recorded two strikeouts and a groundout in the first frame.
Iowa State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
- Milaysia Ochoa hit a solo home run.
  - It was Ochoa's second home run of the season.
In the second inning, ASU led off with a single but Ralston closed the door on any potential ASU runs.
- Ralston forced a pop out and recorded two strikeouts in the second inning.
Iowa State strung together a walk and two hits but failed to plate a run in the top of the third inning.
Saya Swain replaced Ralston in the circle after ASU led off the bottom of the third inning with a leadoff double.
ASU scored three runs in the third frame to take a 3-1 lead.
The Cyclones put a runner in scoring position in the top of the fourth inning but failed to score any runs.
The Sun Devils scored two more runs in the fourth inning to extend its lead to 5-1.
Iowa State added a run in the top of the fifth inning to make it 5-2.
- Mikayla Ramos singled to center field.
  - Camille Marin pinch ran for Ramos.
- Paige Nakashima hit a double down the left field line to score Marin from first.
Arizona State responded with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend its lead 7-2.
Iowa State went down in order in the top of the sixth inning.
ASU added two more runs in the sixth frame to make it 9-2.
ISU scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning but failed to tie the game.

On Deck
Iowa State will have five days off before traveling to Fayetteville, Arkansas to compete in the Wooo Pig Classic hosted by the University of Arkansas. The Cyclones are scheduled to play six games over four days. Opponents that ISU will face include Arkansas, Texas A&M - Corpus Christi and North Texas.

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Team Stats

Sophie Maras

Angelina Allen

Milaysia Ochoa

Kasey Simpson

Players Mentioned

Angelina Allen

Angelica Gonzalez

Tatum Johnson

Sophie Maras

Camille Marin

Ashley Minor

Paige Nakashima

Milaysia Ochoa

Jaiden Ralston

Mikayla Ramos

Kasey Simpson

Saya Swain

Players Mentioned

Angelina Allen

Angelica Gonzalez

Tatum Johnson

Sophie Maras

Camille Marin

Ashley Minor

Paige Nakashima

Milaysia Ochoa

Jaiden Ralston

Mikayla Ramos

Kasey Simpson

Saya Swain

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