Cyclones Drop Friday Contest to BYU, 9-5

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State (17-16, 7-4 Big 12) fell to BYU (22-10, 6-5 Big 12) Friday afternoon by a score of 9-5, as the Cougars plated eight runs in the final three frames to even the series at one apiece.

Iowa State held a 3-1 lead through four frames, but a pair of four-run innings from the Cougars in both the fifth and the seventh turned the game on its head.

Reagan Bartholomew led all hitters with three knocks on the afternoon, as the junior also recorded a game-high four RBI in just her second game back from injury. Three other Cyclones recorded hits on the day, with Angelina Allen accounting for the final RBI.

Jaiden Ralston (4-5) got the start for the Cyclones, throwing four complete, scoreless frames. However, the BYU offense broke through in the fifth, plating four on the junior to take the lead. Lauren Schurman and Sami Potvin would relieve Ralston, allowing another five runs, but only two were earned.

For the Cougars, their first three batters all notched two knocks on the day, accounting for six of the team's eight RBI. I'Lovea Brittingham had a mammoth homer and a team-best three RBI to lead the way. BYU starter Kaysen Korth struggled, allowing three runs on four hits, but Jada Villegas (3-2) was lockdown in relief as she earned the win.

How it Happened
After seeing the Cougars jump to an early 1-0 lead in Thursday's game, ISU returned the favor on Friday. The Cyclones saw Sereniti Trice leadoff with a double down the left line and two batters later, Angelina Allen would drive her in for the early lead.

The Cougar bats were stifled early, as Ralston hammered out three straight three-up, three-down frames as ISU took its 1-0 lead into the fourth. That changed quickly at the hands of Brittingham, whose solo shot knotted things back up.

In the bottom of the fourth, ISU responded with a homer of its own – a two-run blast – courtesy of Reagan Bartholomew to retake the lead, 3-1.

That advantage didn't last long, as BYU responded immediately with a four-run fifth frame. With two outs, the Cougars rattled off three straight singles to load the bases. A bases-loaded walk, a single and an ISU error would result in four runs and give BYU a 5-3 advantage.

Two innings later, the Cougars plated another four runs to take a commanding 9-3 lead. In the seventh, a leadoff walk and a pair of singles would juice the bases with no outs. A two-RBI single and a pair of sac flies would do the trick for the Cougs to extend the lead to six.

ISU had a rally in the bottom of the frame, plating two runs, but it was snuffed out as the Cyclones fell to the Cougars by four. ISU got its two runs on a two-out, bases-loaded single from Bartholomew who ran her daily RBI total to four.

Friday Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: Reagan Bartholomew (4)
BYU: Ilove'a Brittingham (12)

WP – Jada Villegas (3-2): 3.1 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs (0 earned), 1 walk, 4 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Jaiden Ralston (4-5): 4.2 IP, 5 hits, 4 runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout

On Deck
The Cyclones and Cougars will meet tomorrow, Saturday, April 5, in the series rubber match. Saturday's decisive game three is set to begin at noon central and the action will be streamed live on ESPN+.

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Team Stats

Reagan Bartholomew

Sereniti Trice

Jessie Clemons

Angelina Allen

Players Mentioned

Angelina Allen

Reagan Bartholomew

Sami Potvin

Jaiden Ralston

Lauren Schurman

Sereniti Trice

Players Mentioned

Angelina Allen

Reagan Bartholomew

Sami Potvin

Jaiden Ralston

Lauren Schurman

Sereniti Trice

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics