UNLV Desert Classic Primer

Who: Iowa State vs. UC Santa Barbara / UNLV / Bradley

Where: Eller Media Stadium – Las Vegas, Nev.

When: Feb. 16 / 17 / 18 – 2:30 & 8 p.m. / 12 & 2:30 p.m. / 11:30 a.m.

Leading Off
After opening the season in a stacked Puerto Vallarta College Challenge field, Iowa State heads west for its second tournament of the season. The Cyclones will play five games in Las Vegas, against a field of UC Santa Barbara, UNLV and Bradley. The Cyclones will look to move over .500, as they split their first four games in Mexico, defeating both Utah Valley and Long Beach but falling to #11 Duke and #7 Washington.

Quick Hits:

Iowa State will have their first true road game this trip, playing the Rebels on Friday night.
Five freshmen saw action in the opening weekend for the Cyclones, highlighted by Isabelle Nosan's game-tying seventh-inning home run against Long Beach.
Coach Pinkerton hit career win number 510 in Mexico as well as Iowa State win number 160.
The Cyclones scored their most runs in a season-opening game since 2011 last week, defeating Utah Valley 12-1.
The Cyclones have hit a home run in all four games so far this season. One apiece on the first three and three alone in the fourth contest.
Assistant Coach Linsey Ubrun returned to the Cyclones this offseason after spending the last six as the head coach of Wagner College.
- She was previously an assistant coach at ISU from 2014-16.

Leading the Cyclones
Team captains Milaysia Ochoa and Angelina Allen lead the team in hits, as each collected seven in the opening weekend. Sophomore infielder Ashley Minor has a team-high seven RBI with two sac flies. Last season, Minor had a total of nine RBI. Ochoa has a team-best batting average of .636 and she has the lone triple of the year. Senior Carli Spelhaug has two early homers to lead the squad.

All six pitchers on staff have taken the circle through one week, as Saya Swain is leading the way. The senior from Paris, Texas, has a 2-1 record and 11 strikeouts to her name. Karlie Charles and Karlie Charles have each pitched a little over three innings of action. Charles has given up just one earned run.

Series History
The Cyclones hold a 9-6 series advantage over the Gauchos and have won seven of the last eight meetings.

UNLV and ISU have met four times, with the Rebels owning a 4-0 record. ISU is 0-3 against UNLV in Vegas.

Iowa State is 6-2 against Bradley and will meet the Braves for the first time since 2009.

On Deck
Iowa State will return to action next weekend, when it travels to Charlottesville, Va. for its third early season tournament – the Rawlings Classic. Next weekend's tournament will have the Cyclones playing five games between three opponents – Delaware, Lehigh and Virginia.

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Players Mentioned

Angelina Allen

Karlie Charles

Ashley Minor

Isabelle Nosan

Milaysia Ochoa

Carli Spelhaug

Saya Swain

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics