Home Opener: Iowa State vs. Arizona State

Who: Iowa State (14-14, 4-2 Big 12) vs. Arizona State (23-10, 5-4 Big 12)

Where: Cyclone Softball Complex – Ames, Iowa

When: March 28, 1 & 4 pm CT // March 29, 1 pm CT

Leading Off
Iowa State looks to finish March strong, as it is set to host Arizona State in its home-opening series this weekend. The Cyclones will look to win their home-opening series for the second straight year as their 4-2 record through six Big 12 games is tied for the program best (2002).

After playing 28-straight contests away from home, Iowa State is set to open play at the Cyclone Softball Complex this weekend. ISU enters its homestand coming off its first conference road sweep since 2019 as it handled UCF in Orlando. It was the team's first road sweep in general since 2021.

Winners of seven of their last ten contests, Arizona State comes to Ames after earning its fourth win over a ranked opponent last time out as it salvaged the series against No. 10 Arizona. Just three weeks into the conference slate, the Sun Devils currently sit in sixth place and are tied for the second-most wins in the conference.

Series Note: The home-opening series has already seen an adjustment due to the weekend forecast, as the teams will now meet twice on Friday as Sunday looks to be a wash with rain. The schedule is still subject to change, so stay attentive to cyclones.com for any future updates.

As a reminder, admission to the Cyclone Sports Complex is free.

From the Notes:

The Cyclones spent the first seven weeks of the season away from the Cyclone Softball Complex, playing 28-straight games on the road or at a neutral site.
- March 28 is the latest season-opener since 2022. That squad didn't play at home until April 6.
Iowa State went 1-2 in its first Big 12 series, taking the opening game against Houston. For ISU, it was the program's first Big 12-opening win since 2006.
After having 11 seniors leave, ISU only has two on this year's roster. Over half of the team, 14, are underclassmen.
- Of Iowa State's most used lineup this season, just one position player started over 50 percent of last year's games (Angelina Allen).
- Only four players are over the age of 21.
2025 marks the beginning of a new Big 12 expansion, as three new schools – Arizona, Arizona State and Utah – all enter the fray.
Jessie Clemons is one of the best hitting rookies in the country, as she currently ranks in the top 20 for doubles (T7) and hits (T19) among all collegiate freshmen.
Freshman pitcher Sami Potvin hurled a five-inning perfect game against Grambling State, striking out a career-high nine batters.

Leading the Cyclones
Iowa State's top half of the order has done the majority of the heavy lifting this season and is led by a pair of freshmen at the top. Jessie Clemons (.372) and Sereniti Trice (.372) lead the team in batting average and hits (35). Returning All-American Angelina Allen has a team-high 13 walks with two triples to go along with 30 hits and 15 RBI.

Rounding out the four and five spots are another pair of newcomers – transfers Sydney Malott and Reagan Bartholomew. Malott has a team-best five home runs, tying her career single-season high. Bartholomew's 18 RBI are the third-most on the team and she is one of eight Cyclones with double-digit hits.

In the circle, five Cyclones have seen action. Lauren Schurman leads the way with a team-low ERA of 2.72. Schurman has hurled 72 innings, a team-high, and owns 42 punchouts, also a team high. Jaiden Ralston has five starts in 19 appearances with 27 strikeouts. Freshmen Abby Huhn and Sami Potvin have been solid, as each have multiple wins.

Overall, the Cyclones are hitting .275 and have produced 132 runs on 211 hits. The team has 71 extra-base hits with 120 RBI, while drawing 69 walks. ISU holds a collective 4.15 ERA and has allowed 223 hits in 179.0 innings of work.

Opponent Outlook
Arizona State's offense is led by a quartet of players who have seen action in all 33 games this season. Kelsey Hall has a team-high 35 RBI, while Tanya Windle leads the team in hits with 42. Samantha Swan and Tiare Ho-Ching round out the production, as each has over 30 hits.

About a third of ASU's hits are for extra-bases, as it has the second-most doubles and third-most homers of any team in the league. Individually, Windle has the third-most hits and doubles in the conference and the while Hall has the fifth-most home runs.

The Sun Devils keep a tight rotation in the circle, throwing just four throughout the year. Meika Lauppe has the most appearances (22), while Kenzie Brown has a team-low ERA of 0.98 in 19 games. Brown has 137 strikeouts to her name, more than the rest of the staff combined.

Overall, the Sun Devils are hitting .313 and have produced 173 runs on 270 hits. The team has 87 extra-base hits with 163 RBI, while drawing 81 walks. ASU holds a collective 3.14 ERA and has allowed 210 hits in 225.1 innings of work.

Series History
Iowa State has previously faced Arizona State 14 times, as the Sun Devils hold a 10-4 all-time record against the Cyclones. All previous meetings have either been at ASU in Tempe or at a neutral site as the Sun Devils will be playing what is believed to be their first ever games in the state of Iowa.

On Deck
Following its home-opening series, Iowa State will be back in action on Tuesday, April 1, when it hosts South Dakota State for a doubleheader in its first midweek action of the year. Tuesday's games are set to start at 1 pm, with game two to follow. Both games will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Angelina Allen

Reagan Bartholomew

Jessie Clemons

Abby Huhn

Sydney Malott

Sami Potvin

Jaiden Ralston

Lauren Schurman

Sereniti Trice

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics