Iowa State at No. 1 Oklahoma Primer

Who: Iowa State (9-10, 0-0 Big 12) at No. 1 Oklahoma (19-1, 0-0 Big 12)

Where: Love's Field (4,200) – Norman, Okla.

When: March 9 & 10 – 2/5 & 1 p.m.

Leading Off
Iowa State is set to open up Big 12 Conference play this weekend, as it travels to the defending national champion and top-ranked Oklahoma Sooners brand new Love's Field digs.

The Cyclones head to Norman after a 2-3 week at the Colorado Classic. The Cyclones earned their first road wins of the season in the tournament, defeating Northern Colorado twice in a Saturday doubleheader.

Oklahoma enters the weekend having lost for the first time in their last 72 games, seeing its 71-game win streak come to an end at the hands of Louisiana. The Sooners continue their inaugural 11-game homestand at Love's Field, playing games 7-8-9 against the Cyclones.

Quick Hits:

ISU has homered in 15 of its first 19 games of the season. Five of those 14 games featured multi-homer efforts from the Cyclones.
The Cyclones have used a fifth inning or later comeback in seven of its nine wins.
Iowa State has recorded double-digit runs in a game four times so far this season. It had only two such games in 2023.
The team has drawn the second most walks in the conference (83), showcasing its discipline at the plate.
Junior Angelina Allen ranks among the best hitters in the conference four weeks into the season and was awarded the Big 12 Player of the Week honor this past week, making her the first Cyclone since Sami Williams in 2021 to earn the award.
- Allen leads the league in batting average (.543), hits (38), doubles (8) and is second in homers (8) and OPS (1.590).
- Allen is third in the Big 12 in RBI (26) as well as on base percentage (.590).
  - Allen was also ranked as the third-best outfielder in the country by Softball America following her torrid start to the season.
Milaysia Ochoa tied the program record for most HBP at the Rawlings Classic with 28. One more would give her the school record.
Both Ochoa and Alesia Ranches are tied for the fourth-most doubles in the league with six apiece. Ranches (15) and Ochoa (13) are both top six in the league in walks drawn as well.

Leading the Cyclones

The aforementioned Allen leads the Cyclones in most every offensive category outside of runs and walks drawn. Ochoa, a fellow team captain, has complimented Allen nicely to start the season. From the leadoff spot, Milaysia is hitting .365 with 13 walks drawn and three HBP – giving her an OBP of .488.

Three Cyclones – Carli Spelhaug, Ranches and Alesia Minor – have three homers, tied for the second-most on the team behind Allen. Four athletes are hitting above .300, as ISU has mixed and matched lineups throughout the year.

All six pitchers on staff have taken the circle with senior Saya Swain leading the way. Swain has an early 4-1 record in seven appearances and 24 strikeouts to her name. Karlie Charles has a 4.30 ERA with 17 strikeouts of her own – the third most on the team. Freshman Lauren Schurman has 20 strikeouts across 29.1 innings pitched, logging the most inning of any ISU pitcher.

Opponent Outlook
Collectively, Oklahoma is hitting .385 on the season and leads the Big 12 conference in homers, mashing 34 across its first 20 games. The Sooners back up their explosive offense with sound defense, boasting the fewest errors and highest fielding percentage in the conference.

OU has seven players hitting over .400 on the season, spearheaded by Kasidi Pickering who is hitting a team-high .458. Alyssa Brito leads the team in homers, as she's third in the conference with seven on the year. The Sooners have four pitchers who hold a 2.10 ERA or lower, with Kierston Deal holding a .97 ERA – the fifth-lowest in the conference.

The defending national champion Sooners have been the top-ranked team in the country since the middle of last season, claiming their third straight title in 2023. OU had won 71 straight contests dating back to last year before falling to Louisiana last weekend.

Series History
Iowa State and Oklahoma have met 123 times and will add three more matchups to that ledger this weekend in Norman. The Sooners hold the all-time record and are 43-8 when facing the Cyclones in Norman. ISU hasn't beaten the historically dominant Sooners since 2006 and has not won in Norman since 2003.

The Cyclones have never beaten a number one team before, having met the country's top team 26 times prior to the weekend. The highest ranked opponent Iowa State has beaten is the No. 3 team – having done so twice. Most recently, Iowa State toppled third-ranked Oklahoma State in Stillwater last year.

On Deck
The Cyclones have a quick turnaround following the Big 12 opening weekend against OU, as they stay in the Sooner State to take on Tulsa in the first midweek game for both teams. First pitch for ISU and Tulsa is set for 5 p.m. and the game from Collins Family Softball Complex will be streamed live on Hurricane Vision.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Angelina Allen

Karlie Charles

Milaysia Ochoa

Alesia Ranches

Lauren Schurman

Carli Spelhaug

Saya Swain

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics