Cyclones Claim Game One Win in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Iowa State (27-19, 12-7 Big 12) earned its seventh Big 12 series-opening win Friday evening, defeating Utah (12-35, 4-15 Big 12) by a score of 6-2.

With the win, Iowa State is guaranteed to finish at .500 or above for just the third time in program history. One more conference win would secure just the second winning conference record in school annals.

Iowa State jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead before tacking on four runs in the final three frames to pull away with a four-run win. Iowa State had its 15^th 10-plus hit game of the season on the night, as three Cyclones had multi-hit games.

Tatum Johnson led the way with a game-high three knocks, one of which went for extra bases. Angelina Allen and Sereniti Trice also had multi-hit games, with Allen collecting doubles for her two at-bats.

Jaiden Ralston (9-7) started and got the win for ISU, allowing just one run on one hit in four frames of work. Lauren Schurman (3) picked up her third save of the season, tying Ralston for most on the team. Schurman pitched the final three frames, allowing one run on four hits.

Kaylah Nelsen led Utah with two hits, while three other Utes nabbed hits on the day. Nelsen and Jolie Mayfield accounted for both of the team's RBI, while Shonty Passi drew the team's lone walk. Hailey Maestretti (3-9) pitched six frames for Utah and allowed six runs on nine hits.

How it Happened
Trice got the game going with a bang, as the rookie ripped a triple over the left fielder's head down the line to reach third and put the Cyclones in business. With Clemons up to bat, a wild pitch allowed Trice to come home and put ISU on top. Two outs later, Angelian Allen ripped a double to left field to give ISU a runner. Sydney Malott was the next Cyclone to flash solid two-out hitting, as she belted a single down the right line to plate Allen from second and put ISU up, 2-0.

Iowa State would get the Utes to go three-up, three-down in the first three frames, as the game remained 2-0 heading into the fourth frame.

In the fourth, Utah got on the board, trimming the ISU lead to one. A one-out walk was doubled in by Kaylah Nelsen, making the game 2-1 in favor of ISU.

Iowa State responded to Utah's first run in the fifth, plating three to push the lead to 5-1. A Trice single and Clemons walk placed a pair on the path and brought up Tatum Johnson. Johnson smacked a 1-2 pitch through the right side to plate Trice and move Clemons to second. An Allen fielder's choice would load the bases and bring up Sydney Malott with one out. Malott also hit into a fielder's choice which put pressure on the defense and saw Utah commit an error trying to turn two, allowing another run to come across. Another Ute wild pitch allowed ISU to score run no. 5 and take a four-run lead.

Utah plated a second run in the sixth, ripping a two-out single up the middle to plate one and make it 5-2.

Iowa State scored one final run in the seventh, as Allen blooped a double into left field to plate Clemons and make it 6-2.

Utah went down quietly in the seventh going down in in order as ISU claimed victory.

Friday Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: N/A
Utah: N/A

WP – Jaiden Ralston (9-7): 4.0 IP, 1 hit, 1 run, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts
SV – Lauren Schurman (3): 3.0 IP, 4 hits, 1 run, 0 walks, 1 strikeout
LP – Morgan Vertz (7-5): 2.0 IP, 4 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts

On Deck
The Cyclones will meet the Utes again tomorrow, April 26, in game two of the weekend series. Saturday's game is slated to start at 1 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.

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Team Stats

Tatum Johnson

Sereniti Trice

Angelina Allen

Jessie Clemons

Players Mentioned

Angelina Allen

Tatum Johnson

Sydney Malott

Jaiden Ralston

Lauren Schurman

Sereniti Trice

Players Mentioned

Angelina Allen

Tatum Johnson

Sydney Malott

Jaiden Ralston

Lauren Schurman

Sereniti Trice

Sponsors

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