Late-Inning Comeback Falls Short vs. No. 7 UW

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – In its second-straight matchup with a top-15 opponent, Iowa State (1-2) came up short in a comeback effort against No. 7 Washington (3-1), falling to the top-ten Huskies 8-4.

What was a pitcher's dual between the starting arms burst open in the sixth inning, as nine of the twelve runs were scored in the sixth frame.

Washington led 2-1 heading into the top of the sixth and began to tee off, using a pair of homers to power their four-run win.

Iowa State had a home run of their own on the day, as Carli Spelhaug launched one into right field to plate the first Cyclone run. ISU has homered in all three of its games this season.

Spelhaug was the lone ISU batter to secure multiple hits as the Washington staff held the team to just three total. Milaysia Ochoa had the other hit and scored one of the team's four runs.

Saya Swain (1-1) got the start in the circle, going 4.2 innings and allowing just two runs with four punchouts. Jaiden Ralston, Tatum Johnson and Karlie Charles all saw action in relief.

The Huskies had a pair of players with three hits and a pair of players with two RBI. The strong pitching of starter Lindsay Lopez (1-0) and the closing outs from Ruby Meylan (1) shut down the Cyclone offense as the two combined to allow just three hits and one run while striking out six.

How it Happened
The seventh-ranked Huskies got on the board early, plating a run in the top half of the first. Brooklyn Carter led the game off with a single that just went under McKenna Andrews outstretched backhand attempt. Carter then stole both second and third before a Jillian Celis single would bring her home.

Swain then settled in for the Cyclones, allowing a few hits but keeping the Huskies out of the scoring column and Washington did the same as the next three innings went scoreless.

With two outs in the fifth, Ralston entered for Swain. A Huskie single by the shortstop and advancement on a wild pitch was eventually cashed in with a single to left to make it a 2-0 Washinton lead.

Iowa State got on the board in the bottom of the frame, as Spelhaug launched her first homer of the season to right field.

The Huskie hitters started to turn it on in the sixth, using five hits – two of them being home runs – and a pair of walks with a HBP to plate six runs and go up 8-1.

Lopez left the game for Washington in the bottom of the frame and immediately the Cyclones drew a pair of walks and were HBP to load the bases with one out. A deep foul out from Ashley Minor scored a run to make it 2-8. A Washington error would allow another score and a subsequent walk again loaded the bases. Another UW error made it 4-8 with the bases loaded with two outs.

That's when Washington went to their ace, bringing in Meylan for a save opportunity. She would face Tiana Poole who represented the tying run. Meylan would get Poole to groundout, thus ending the threat.

Neither team mustered any offense in the seventh, ending the game.

Saturday Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: Carli Spelhaug (1)
Washington: Alana Johnson (1), Kinsey Fiedler (1)

WP – Lindsay Lopez (1-0): 5.0 IP, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts
SV – Ruby Meylan (1): 1.1 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts
LP – Saya Swain (1-1): 4.2 IP, 7 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts

On Deck
Iowa State will return to Nancy Almaraz Stadium tomorrow morning to close out the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge against Long Beach State. Sunday's game is set to start at 9:30 a.m. and will be streamed on FloSoftball.

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Team Stats

Carli Spelhaug

Milaysia Ochoa

Angelina Allen

Alesia Ranches

Players Mentioned

McKenna Andrews

Karlie Charles

Tatum Johnson

Ashley Minor

Milaysia Ochoa

Tiana Poole

Jaiden Ralston

Carli Spelhaug

Saya Swain

Players Mentioned

McKenna Andrews

Karlie Charles

Tatum Johnson

Ashley Minor

Milaysia Ochoa

Tiana Poole

Jaiden Ralston

Carli Spelhaug

Saya Swain

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