Softball Primer: Iowa State at Texas Tech

AMES, Iowa - Iowa State hits the road to Lubbock, Texas for its next Big 12 series. The Cyclones will take on Texas Tech in a three-game set beginning Friday at 6 p.m. ISU is looking for its first league win of the season after suffering a sweep to No. 1 Oklahoma at home to open conference play last weekend.

The Matchup: Iowa State (11-17, 0-3 Big 12) at Texas Tech (26-11, 0-3 Big 12)
Where: Rocky Johnson Field // Lubbock, Texas
When: March 31 - April 2 // 6 p.m., 1 p.m., Noon
Watch: Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Live Stats: cyclones.com

Key Storylines

Iowa State hosted No. 1 Oklahoma on the first weekend of conference play. Iowa State lost game one, 3-0, before falling in five innings in games two and three, 13-3 and 10-0, respectively.
A record crowd (1,715) piled into the Cyclone Sports Complex to watch the Cyclones and Sooners play a doubleheader on Saturday.
Mikayla Ramos' 145 career RBIs rank third in Iowa State history. The senior had back-to-back 50-plus RBI seasons entering her final campaign.
ISU has two of the nation's top pitchers in strikeouts per seven innings. Saya Swain (9.1) and Jaiden Ralston (8.9) both rank among the top-50 nationally.
Lea Nelson hit the first home run of her career Saturday against Oklahoma. She has two hits on the season, a double and a homer.
With 52 career stolen bases, Carli Spelhaug is the first player in school history to record 20 career homers and 50 stolen bases.
Head Coach Jamie Pinkerton coached in the 1,000th game of his career in game two of the series against Oklahoma last weekend. Pinkerton is six wins shy of eclipsing his 150th win as ISU's head coach. Additionally, Pinkerton is six wins shy of his 500th career victory as a head coach.

Series History

Texas Tech leads, 41-24
Last Meeting: 4/16/22 (L, 9-1 (5 Inn.))
Last Cyclone Win: 4/14/22 (10-9)
Streak: L2
Trends: TTU has won two of last three; ISU is 3-3 vs. TTU in last six meetings and 6-6 in last 12.
Teams have rotated series wins since 2018 (series not played in 2020 due to COVID-19).

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Players Mentioned

Lea Nelson

Jaiden Ralston

Mikayla Ramos

Carli Spelhaug

Saya Swain

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics