ISU Drops Pair in Colorado Classic Opening Day

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Iowa State (7-9) had a rough go on the opening day of the Colorado Classic, dropping a pair of contests to Colorado State (9-8) on the afternoon.

The Cyclones outperformed the Rams both at the plate and in the field, however, 21 runners left on base between the two games doomed ISU as it was unable to convert in critical spots.

A quartet of Cyclones had three hits on the afternoon, as Alesia Ranches, Tiana Poole, Carli Spelhaug and Angelina Allen led the team. Both Allen and Ashley Minor had two RBI, while Olivia Wardlow and Paige Zender had one.

Four different pitchers saw action, as Aziza Rodriguez and Karlie Charles got the pair of starts. Rodriguez went for 5.1 innings in game one, allowing just three hits and one earned run. Charles had a pair of strikeouts in game two, going for 4.2 innings of work.

CSU 6, ISU 2
Friday's first game was a bit of a pitcher's duel, as the game went into the sixth inning tied up at one-all. The Rams burst the game open in the sixth, plating five runs to take a 6-1 lead and prevented a seventh-inning Cyclones rally to hold on 6-2.

CSU pitching kept the Cyclones in check, as seven of the 11 Cyclone batters were held hitless. Both teams ended up with seven runs in the game but the difference came with runners left on as ISU stranded nine while CSU stranded just three.

Both Allen and Wardlow recorded RBI in the game with Poole and Spelhaug joining Allen as multi-hit players. Milaysia Ochoa drew a game-high two walks while Allen tacked on her fifth homer of the season.

In her first collegiate loss, Rodriguez pitched well for the Cyclones, going into the sixth inning and allowing two runs (one earned) on the afternoon. Lauren Schurman finished the game off for ISU, recording one strikeout in the final two-third of the sixth.

Colorado State scattered seven hits across six batters, with Peyton Allen was the only Ram with multiple hits. Allen also had two RBI on the game.

How it Happened
Iowa State threatened early, loading the bases up in the first inning with a pair of singles and a walk. A fielder's choice would end the Cyclone threat though, leaving three stranded.

The Rams led off the bottom of the frame reaching with their first runner as a Cyclone error gave CSU a baserunner. CSU would steal second and then advance to third on a groundout. Another CSU groundout plated a run as the Rams took ab early 1-0 lead.

The Cyclones started the second off with a Tatum Johnson walk. Two at-bats later, Olivia Wardlow doubled down the left field line as the ball dribbled into the corner of play, allowing Johnson to race around from first and tie the game up.

The Cyclones continued to threaten in the second, eventually placing runners on second and third with two outs. Paige Nakashima entered in a pinch-hit opportunity but her shot to left center field was handled as CSU ended the Cyclone bats.

ISU again got a pair of runners on in the third with no outs. A sacrifice bunt moved both over into scoring position, but back-to-back fly outs ended the scoring threat.

The game would remain tied at one apiece, heading into the sixth inning. ISU went down in order to start the frame, leading to CSU's plate appearance. At the plate, the Rams started to string things together, recording five runs on five hits to take a 6-1 lead.

Down to its final three outs in the seventh, ISU was unable to rally. An Ashley Minor solo shot added a second run but that was all for the Cyclones as they dropped the days first game, 2-6.

How it Happened
Colorado State drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the first and immediately drove it home, doubling out to right center to score an early 1-0 lead.

The Cyclones responded in the second, via an Ashley Minor long ball as the sophomore blasted one to knot the game up at one apiece.

The Rams responded in the bottom of the frame, singling and doubling to put runners on second and third. Leadoff hitter Ashley York doubled into left center to score them both and put CSU back on top 3-1.

After a pair of scoreless frames, Iowa State put another on the board in the fifth. Allen reached as the leadoff hitter thanks to an error by the CSU shortstop. A Ranches single advanced Allen to third where she would score following a Minor single to make it 2-3.

Colorado State responded immediately, plating a pair in the bottom half. A Cyclone error prolonged the inning, and the Rams took full advantage, plating both runs after what should have been the third and final out to take a 5-2 lead heading into the sixth.

Iowa State cut into the lead in the sixth, as an Ochoa single was driven in on a single from Allen. Ochoa was aided in her scoring efforts by a pair of Ram errors on the play.

The Cyclones held CSU scoreless in the bottom before heading to the seventh needing two runs to tie. Iowa State loaded the bases with two outs and was able to walk in a run. CSU pulled its starting pitcher and put in a Reagan Wick for a save opportunity. Wick was able to get ISU to groundout and escape the bases loaded jam, giving CSU a 5-4 win.

Friday Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: Angelina Allen (5)
Colorado State: Danielle Serna (1)

WP – Giselle Bentley (1-1): 4.0 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Aziza Rodriguez (2-1): 5.1 IP, 3 hits, 2 runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts

CSU 5, ISU 4
Iowa State suffered the same fate as game one, falling to the Rams in game two by a run. The Cyclones outhit CSU, 10-9, but again left too many runners on base (12) and were unable to capitalize in advantageous situations.

Ranches had a game in the day's second outing, going for three hits and scoring a run. Minor was the lone other Cyclone to compile multiple hits while five other Cyclones recorded hits. Minor had a pair of RBI on the afternoon while both Allen and Paige Zender chipped in one apiece.

Karlie Charles got the start in the circle before Jaiden Ralston came in to pitch the final inning and a third. Ralston allowed just one hit in her time, striking out one Ram.

A pair of Rams had multiple hits in the second game while leadoff hitter Ashley York had a pair of RBI. CSU ace Sydney Hornbuckle about went the distance but as ISU almost rallied in the seventh, was pulled for the final out.

Friday Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: Ashley Minor (3)
Colorado State: N/A

WP – Sydney Hornbuckle (5-3): 6.2 IP, 10 hits, 4 runs (2 earned), 4 walks, 1 strikeout
SV – Reagan Wick (1): 0.1 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts
LP – Karlie Charles (0-3): 4.2 IP, 8 hits, 5 runs (3 earned), 1 walk, 2 strikeouts

On Deck
The Cyclones will be back in action tomorrow, March 2, as part of the second day of the Colorado Classic. Day two's action will take place in Greeley, Colo., at Gloria Rodriguez Field as ISU will take on Northern Colorado twice. Tomorrow's games are at 1 and 4 p.m. CT and will not be streamed.

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Team Stats

Alesia Ranches

Angelina Allen

Ashley Minor

Milaysia Ochoa

Players Mentioned

Angelina Allen

Karlie Charles

Tatum Johnson

Ashley Minor

Paige Nakashima

Milaysia Ochoa

Tiana Poole

Jaiden Ralston

Alesia Ranches

Aziza Rodriguez

Lauren Schurman

Carli Spelhaug

Olivia Wardlow

Paige Zender

Players Mentioned

Angelina Allen

Karlie Charles

Tatum Johnson

Ashley Minor

Paige Nakashima

Milaysia Ochoa

Tiana Poole

Jaiden Ralston

Alesia Ranches

Aziza Rodriguez

Lauren Schurman

Carli Spelhaug

Olivia Wardlow

Paige Zender

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