Upcoming Event: Softball versus DMACC on September 17, 2025 at 4 p.m.
4 p.m.
Softball
DMACC
Iowa State University Athletics
Friday, March 15
Ames, Iowa
1 p.m.
Iowa State University
10-14, 1-3
9
vs
1
Houston
17-8, 1-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
R
H
E
Houston
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
3
0
Iowa State
2
0
3
1
1
2
9
7
0
Photo by: Iowa State Athletics
Cyclones Secure Series; Search for Saturday Sweep
03.15.2024 | Softball
AMES, Iowa – In its home-opening series, Iowa State (11-14, 2-3 Big 12) got on the board, picking up a pair of conference wins in a Friday doubleheader over league newcomer Houston (17-9, 1-4 Big 12). The Cyclones dominated both games, scoring nine in each contest and winning the first via run rule in six innings.
Both Angelina Allen and Alesia Ranches had team-highs of four hits on the afternoon. Carli Spelhaug (5) and Allen (4) led the team in RBI, while Allen also scored a tea-best five runs across the two games.
Three pitchers saw action on the day, as Jaiden Ralston was locked in in the circle. The sophomore threw 4.2 innings, allowing just two hits and no runs while striking out six. Ralston earned her first save of the season in game two. Aziza Rodriguez and Lauren Schurman picked up wins on the day.
The two teams met twice on Friday due to the forecasted Sunday temperature. Saturday's game has also been impacted, being moved up to a noon start time.
The Cougars earned just eight hits across the two games.
ISU 9, UH 1 (6 Inn.)
Friday's first game was all ISU, as the Cyclones took an early 5-1 lead through three innings. Iowa State piled on four more runs across the fourth, fifth and sixth inning, eventually winning on a Ranches walk-off, run-rule two-run home run.
Tiana Poole went 2-2 in the game with a walk and an RBI double. Allen scored three of her five runs in game one, while also drawing two walks. The top half of the ISU order accounted for over half of the team's hits with the trio of Allen, Ranches and Spelhaug all hitting dingers.
Schurman allowed just two hits across her 3.1 innings pitched, throwing a total of 70 pitches. In relief, Ralston threw 2.2 innings and allowed just one hit with five punchouts.
How it Happened
The Cyclones struck first, plating a pair of runs in the first. Milaysia Ochoa led the game off with a double to left center and later advanced to third on a Ranches fly out. A Cougar wild pitch would bring her home as the team went up one. Poole then stepped in and belted a double to score Allen and make it 2-0, Cyclones.
Houston responded with a run of its own in the second, as a leadoff double was driven in by a single down the right field line to make it 2-1.
From there it was all ISU, as in the third Allen led off with her ninth homer of the season, a solo shot. Following a Poole walk and with two outs, Spelhaug crushed her fifth homer to make it 5-1.
In the fourth, with runners on second and third, Allen grounded out but was able to plate Olivia Wardlow as ISU took a five-run lead.
The Cyclones loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth, with Wardlow coming through clutch, blooping a single over the third baseman's head and into left to make it 7-1 in favor of Iowa State.
Allen led the seventh inning off with a four-pitch walk before Ranches jumped on the first pitch she saw, belting one over the center field fence to trigger a run-rule victory for the Cyclones.
Friday Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: Angelina Allen (9), Alesia Ranches (4), Carli Spelhaug (5)
Houston: N/A
WP – Lauren Schurman (6-2): 3.1 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 4 walks, 2 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Shelby Smith (9-3): 3.2 IP, 4 hits, 6 runs, 3 walks, 0 strikeouts
ISU 9, UH 4
Houston responded in game two, taking an early 4-0 lead through 2.5 innings of play. However, a five-run third and four insurance runs in the last three innings gave ISU its second win of the day.
The five-run third inning all happened with two outs, as after the first two batters went down, ISU rattled off six hits in a row to plate five and take a 5-4 advantage.
Both Allen and Ranches had three hits in the second part of the doubleheader, with Spelhaug boasting a team-best three RBI. Both Allen and Poole joined Spelhaug with multiple RBI in the game while McKenna Andrews had two hits and an RBI of her own.
Aziza Rodriguez pitched her longest stint of the season, going five innings and striking out three Cougars – the first punchouts of her collegiate career. Ralston entered for Rodriguez in a save situation and earned her first save of the season as she allowed just one hit in her two innings of work.
How it Happened
The Cougars drew a leadoff walk which was promptly doubled in by the two hole to make it a quick 1-0 lead for UH. The very next batter, Jazmyn Rollin, spanked a homer over the right field fence to make it 3-0 as Houston gained the early advantage.
After a scoreless second, Houston tacked on a fourth run in the third. Another Cougar leadoff walk was doubled in to make it 4-0 in favor of the visiting team.
In the bottom of the frame, however, the Cyclones struck back. After a fly out and a ground out, Allen ripped a two-out single to first base. Ranches then cranked her first triple of the season down the right line to plate Allen. Poole got in on the fun, singling in Ranches before Ashley Minor doubled to put her and Poole in scoring position. With a full count, Spelhaug then doubled to left center to score before Andrews drove her in on a double of her own. After the damage was done, ISU found itself with a 5-4 lead.
The Cyclones led the fourth off with an Ochoa walk. Allen then stepped back into the box and doubled to left center to score Milaysia, giving ISU an insurance run.
Neither team was able to score in the fifth inning.
ISU tacked on three more runs in the sixth for good measure. Allen, Poole and Spelhaug all tallied RBI in the frame as the Cyclone lead ran to 9-4.
Ralston shut the Cougars down in the top of the seventh, securing Iowa State's second win of the day.
Friday Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: N/A
Houston: Jazmyn Rollin (5)
WP – Aziza Rodriguez (3-4): 5.0 IP, 4 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Paris Lehman (4-2): 3.0 IP, 8 hits, 5 runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeoutÂ
On Deck
Iowa State and Houston will meet for the series finale tomorrow, Saturday March 16 at noon. The previous start time (1 p.m.) was moved up to accommodate Houston's travel schedule.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Rodriguez, Aziza (3-4)
L: Lehman,Paris (4-2)
S: Ralston, Jaiden (1)
Batting:
2B: Thomas,Kennedy 1 ; Cantu,Bree 1 ; Hulsey,Paige 1
HR: Rollin,Jazmyn 1
RBI: Thomas,Kennedy 1 ; Rollin,Jazmyn 2 ; Cantu,Bree 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Beautae,Lair 1 ; Thomas,Kennedy 2 ; Rollin,Jazmyn 1
HBP: Cantu,Bree 1
Batting:
2B: Allen, Angelina 1 ; Minor, Ashley 1 ; Spelhaug, Carli 2 ; Andrews, McKenna 1
3B: Ranches, Alesia 1
RBI: Allen, Angelina 2 ; Ranches, Alesia 1 ; Poole, Tiana 2 ; Spelhaug, Carli 3 ; Andrews, McKenna 1
SF: Poole, Tiana 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ochoa, Milaysia 2 ; Allen, Angelina 2 ; Ranches, Alesia 2 ; Poole, Tiana 1 ; Minor, Ashley 1 ; Spelhaug, Carli 1
SB: Ochoa, Milaysia 1 ; Poole, Tiana 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
2
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
LHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballSB Replay 2025 B12 Semifinal ISU vs Arizona
Monday, May 12
SB Replay 2025 B12 Quarterfinal ISU vs BYU
Monday, May 12
SB Highlights vs. BYU (Big 12 Tournament Quarterfinals)
Friday, May 09
SB Replay Baylor at ISU 2025 Gm3
Tuesday, May 06
