ISU Concludes Rawlings Classic

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Iowa State (7-7) saw its potent offense cool off on Sunday, falling to both host-school Virginia (9-4) and Lehigh (3-9). The Cyclone offense that averaged 5.3 runs per game ended up scoring just two on the day.

The day started bright and early against the Virginia Cavaliers, as the two teams squared off to start the third day of tournament play. The two teams were meant to play on Saturday but action was postponed to Sunday due to inclement weather. The Hoos went on to win 1-0 in nine innings in a matchup that featured great pitching on both sides.

The Cyclones turned around and faced the Lehigh Mountain Hawks for the second time over the weekend – having previously defeated LU on Friday, 5-4. Lehigh scored a pair in both the first and third inning and ISU was unable to overcome the deficit, losing 2-4.

Virginia 1, ISU 0 (9 Inn.)
Iowa State and Virginia eventually met on Sunday morning, a day later than initially scheduled due to inclement weather in Charlottesville. The matchup didn't disappoint, as pitchers and defense on both sides dominated the game. Virginia was able to break a scoreless stalemate in nine innings, walking off the Cyclones.

Karlie Charles was spectacular for ISU, pitching the entire game (her 8.1 IP are the most of any Cyclone this season) and only surrendering four hits. Charles issued no walks and struck out seven in what was a two-hitter headed into the ninth.

The ISU bats struggled with UVA's pitching duo of Savannah Henley and Eden Bingham who combined to allow just two Cyclone hits and strikeout 12 on the day.

Sunday's meeting between the Cyclones and Cavaliers was the first since 1999 when the teams met twice as part of a tournament in Tallahassee, Fla. ISU took both meetings in the tournament, winning against current Cyclone head coach Jamie Pinkerton who was in the dugout for UVA back then as an assistant coach.

How it Happened
Sunday's first game was the true definition of a pitcher's duel. Neither team surrendered a run through eight straight innings of action.

Iowa State reached in the second on an infield single from Tiana Poole and the Cyclones wouldn't register a second hit until the eighth.

Virginia was held hitless until the fourth inning when they sent a double to the wall but were unable to capitalize. The Cavaliers didn't record a second hit until the bottom of the seventh, where they threatened to walk it off but were unable to bring in a runner from second.

The eighth inning was again a scoreless affair as the Cyclones got two cracks at bringing in a runner from second base but were unable to.

ISU again got a runner on second in the ninth, but a pair of strikeouts ended the threat and brought UVA back to the plate.

In the bottom of the frame, Virginia used its third and fourth hit of the game to end it, leading off with a single down the left field line. The runner then advanced on a foul out and stole third before being driven in off another single to end the game.

It was the second straight morning ISU had been walked off.

Sunday Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: N/A
Virginia: N/A

WP – Eden Bingham (4-2): 6.0 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Karlie Charles (0-2): 8.1 IP, 4 hits, 1 run, 0 walks, 7 strikeouts

ISU 2, Lehigh 4
Originally scheduled to be Iowa State's only game of the day, ISU met Lehigh following after the UVA game.

The Cyclones were able to put together six hits, triple their morning production, but were only able to bring two runs across.

Lehigh's pitcher, Katelyn Young, went the distance for the Mountain Hawks, pitching all seven innings and registering four strikeouts.

The Cyclones had homered in all but two games going into Sunday, but the ISU bats were held in check, producing below their season average.

Carli Spelhaug played in her 200^th game as a Cyclone on against Lehigh.

How it Happened
Iowa State got a single in the top of the first inning but were unable to bring the run around as the game moved to the bottom of the frame.

Lehigh wasted little time, putting two on the board in the first frame. A pair of singles put runners on and a wild pitch brought home the first Mountain Hawk to make it 1-0 in favor of Lehigh. LU then used an infield throwing error from ISU to reach and plate another run to make it 2-0 before the inning ended.

A scoreless second from both sides gave way to the third, where ISU tacked its first run to the board. Ochoa led the inning off with a double and was brought home on the next at-bat, as Angelina Allen ripped a single up the middle to make it 2-1.

The Mountain Hawks earned another pair of runs in the third, making it 4-1. LU had runners on second and third with no outs before Julia Mrochko singled to bring in both base runners and extend the advantage.

Iowa State got back on the board in the fifth, as an Ashley Minor single to center scored a run. With the bases loaded, Lehigh retired the ISU threat to mitigate the damage as the top of the fifth ended with Lehigh leading by two, 4-2.

The Cyclones threatened to score in the sixth but again Young settled in and shut down the ISU offense. Iowa State had one last chance in the seventh, but a three-up, three-down inning ended the game and the Cyclones' comeback hopes.

Sunday Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: N/A
Lehigh: N/A

WP – Katelyn Young (2-4): 7.0 IP, 6 hits, 2 runs, 3 walk, 4 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Jaiden Ralston (0-3): 2.2 IP, 6 hits, 4 runs (2 earned), 2 walks, 3 strikeouts

On Deck
Iowa State will be back in action next weekend, when it travels to Colorado to participate in the Colorado Classic. ISU will face off against Colorado State twice on Friday, March 1 with the first game beginning at 1 p.m. CT.

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Team Stats

Angelina Allen

Milaysia Ochoa

Ashley Minor

Isabelle Nosan

Players Mentioned

Angelina Allen

Karlie Charles

Ashley Minor

Tiana Poole

Jaiden Ralston

Carli Spelhaug

Players Mentioned

Angelina Allen

Karlie Charles

Ashley Minor

Tiana Poole

Jaiden Ralston

Carli Spelhaug

Sponsors

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