Iowa State at Wilson Invitational Primer

Who: Iowa State vs. Oregon State / Sainty Mary's / LBSU / Southern Utah / Cal

Where: LBSU Softball Complex – Long Beach, Calif.

When: Feb. 14 / 15 / 16 – 4 / 4 & 6:30 / 11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. CT

Leading Off
After opening its 2025 campaign in Miami, the Cyclones will head to the opposite coast this weekend, as they travel to Long Beach to take part in the Wilson Invitational. ISU will look to get back on track, playing five games in three days.

In Miami, the Cyclones went 1-4, dropping contests to Stony Brook and FIU as well as a pair to 2024 Regional-Qualifier Indiana. The Cyclones hit just .234 in their four losses, averaging 3.5 runs per game. In its lone win of the weekend, ISU had a season-best seven runs, 11 hits, seven RBI and 18 total bases.

The Wilson Invitational will feature five opponents that are all West-Coast based. WCC members Oregon State and Saint Mary's combined to go 4-6 on opening weekend, while newly christened ACC member Cal went 3-2. Long Beach State is 3-1, while Southern Utah is 1-4, rounding out the Cyclone opponents.

Please Note: None of this weekend's contests will be streamed/televised. If you wish to follow along, please use the stat links provided or follow @CycloneSB on Twitter (X).

From the Notes:

ISU will spend seven straight weekends on the road to start the season. That means their first 28 games will all take place away from the Cyclone Softball Complex.
After having 11 seniors leave, ISU only has two on this year's roster. Over half of the team, 14, are underclassmen.
- ISU's opening weekend games frequently featured at least five newcomers in the starting lineup.
2025 marks the beginning of a new Big 12 expansion, as three new schools – Arizona, Arizona State and Utah – all enter the fray.
Freshman Jessie Clemons had three hits in her collegiate debut over the weekend, making her the first player in the Pinkerton era to have at least three hits in their collegiate debut.

Leading the Cyclones
Through one weekend, the Cyclone offense has been led in large part by newcomers. Freshmen Jessie Clemons (.500) and Sereniti Trice (.357) hold the highest batting averages on the team, while transfer Reagan Bartholomew has a team-best seven RBI. Returning All-American Angelina Allen has the team's lone homer and has drawn five walks – the most of any Cyclone.

In the circle, five Cyclones saw the field in Miami. Lauren Schurman and Jaiden Ralston have seen the most action, with both throwing over 10 innings of action on opening weekend. Ralston has a team-high ten strikeouts, while freshman Sami Potvin has allowed the fewest hits, 2, in 4.1 innings of work.

Overall, the Cyclones are hitting .270 and have produced 21 runs on 38 hits. The team has 12 extra-base hits with 20 RBI, while drawing 15 walks. ISU holds a collective 6.03 ERA and has allowed 49 hits in 31.1 innings of work.

Opponent Outlook
Oregon State began the season 3-2, picking up wins over Cal Poly and Ball State in the opening weekend. The Beavers have six players batting over .300 and are led by All-WCC Preseason members Lici Campbell and Nicole Donahue.

Saint Mary's got off to a 1-4 start last weekend, picking up a win over Idaho State in the NorCal Kickoff. The Gaels were picked to win the WCC in the preseason poll and placed four players on the All-WCC Preseason team.

Like Saint Mary's Long Beach was also picked to finish first in its respective conference – the Big West. Seniors Jacquelyn Bickar and Shannon Haddad were selected as Preseason All-Big West players and lead the team at the plate and in the circle.

Southern Utah began the season 1-4, picking up a win against Buffalo as part of the UNLV Classic – a tournament that Iowa State competed in last season. Southern Utah was voted to finish last in the WAC in the conference's preseason poll.

A 2024 regional qualifier, Cal is off to a 3-2 start. At the Kajikawa Classic to open the year, the Bears downed Minnesota, Utah and Maryland and own three Power 4 wins. Infielder Elon Butler was picked All-ACC and the Bears were predicted to finished sixth.

Series History
Iowa State will meet Southern Utah for the third time this weekend in a series that ISU is 2-0 all-time in. The Cyclones will face both Oregon State and Saint Mary's for the fourth time as part of the tournament. ISU is 0-3 against the Beavers and 2-1 against the Gaels. Iowa State and Cal have faced off seven times prior, with the Bears holding a 5-2 edge. ISU and LBSU, will be playing for the 15th time in a series the Beach holds a 10-4 lead in.

On Deck
After opening 2025 with weekend tournaments on opposite sides of the country, Iowa State will be back in action next weekend as it heads south for the Sun Devil Classic. The Sun Devil Classic will be hosted by both GCU and Arizona State, runs from Feb. 21 to Feb. 23, and will have ISU match up with four opponents.

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Players Mentioned

Angelina Allen

Reagan Bartholomew

Jessie Clemons

Sami Potvin

Jaiden Ralston

Lauren Schurman

Sereniti Trice

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