Upcoming Event: Softball versus DMACC on September 17, 2025 at 4 p.m.
4 p.m.
Softball
DMACC
Iowa State University Athletics
Friday, May 9
Oklahoma City, Okla.
5:30 p.m.
Iowa State University
vs
Arizona
Big 12 Championship Semifinal Primer: No. 12 Arizona
05.09.2025 | Softball
Who: Iowa State (31-22, 15-9 Big 12) vs. No. 12 Arizona (44-10, 17-7 Big 12)
Where: Devon Park (13,000) – Oklahoma City, Okla.
When: May 9 // 5:30 p.m.
Leading Off
After notching its third Big 12 Championship semifinals appearance in the last four seasons, Iowa State is set to face one of the two conference opponents it missed this season: No. 12 Arizona.
The Cyclones advanced to Friday's semifinal contest after downing (6) BYU 4-2 in Thursday's quarterfinal action. Jaiden Ralston threw her first career complete game, limiting the Cougars' potent offense to just two runs, while ISU got homers from both McKenna Andrews and Tatum Johnson.
No. 12 Arizona earned its first-ever Big 12 Championship win on Thursday, as it overcame a three-run deficit to topple (7) UCF by a score of 4-3. Regan Shockey and Devyn Netz combined to register four of the team's hits and three of the team's RBI.
Leading the Cyclones
Iowa State's bats are led by unanimous First Team All-Big 12 member Jessie Clemons. Clemons, also a member of the All-Freshman Team, leads the team in batting average (.370), doubles (13) and hits with 64. Sereniti Trice joined Clemons on the All-Freshman Team and was also named Second Team All-Big 12. Trice leads the team in runs scored (44) and stolen bases (14).
Rounding outs ISU's offensive attack are fellow All-Big 12 Second Team member Tatum Johnson, who leads the team in OPS (1.131), OBP (.510) and SLG (.621). Returning All-American Angelina Allen has the third-most hits (54) and leads the team in walks (27), while Illinois transfer Sydney Malott leads the team in RBI (36) and homers (11). Rookie catcher Karlee Ford has come on strong in conference play as she, along with Trice and Clemons, was named to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team.
In the circle, five Cyclones have seen action. Lauren Schurman leads the way with a team-low ERA of 3.43. Schurman has hurled 134.2 innings, a team-high, and owns 64 punchouts, also a team-high. Jaiden Ralston has 14 starts in 43 appearances with 58 strikeouts. Both Schurman (1) and Ralston (8) are top ten in the country in terms of pitching appearances this season. Freshmen Abby Huhn and Sami Potvin, as well as sophomore Aziza Rodriguez, round out the bullpen.
Overall, the Cyclones are hitting .289 and have produced 260 runs on 404 hits. The team has 132 extra-base hits with 237 RBI, while drawing 154 walks. ISU holds a collective 4.55 ERA and has allowed 432 hits in 339.2 innings of work.
Opponent Outlook
The Arizona attack is led by Big 12 Player of the Year Devyn Netz, a two-way phenom. Netz is one of four Wildcats with at least 50 hits. The team's hits leader, Regan Shockey, has 76 total and a team-best batting average of .404.
The Wildcats lead the conference in batting average, as the team collectively hits .350, .030 higher than second place. They've scored the most runs (389), collected the most hits (497), earned the most triples (17) and riven in the most RBI (348).
The Bears' circle staff is mainly a two-person show, again highlighted by Netz. Joining her is Miranda Stoddard who boasts a team-low ERA of 1.96. Netz has 107 strikeouts and seven complete games on the season and has thrown a team-high 138.2 innings.
Overall, the Wildcats are hitting .350 and have produced 389 runs on 497 hits. The team has 156 extra-base hits with 348 RBI, while drawing 211 walks. Arizona holds a collective 2.42 ERA and has allowed 291 hits in 344.0 innings of work.
Series History
Iowa State has never beaten Arizona, as the Wildcats hold a 10-0 all-time series advantage. The teams last met in Tucson in 2022 where the Cyclones fell by a score of 11-3 in five innings. ISU averages just one run per game against Arizona.
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 was 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.
- Iowa State earned its first road Big 12 sweep since 2019 in Orlando, defeating UCF in three straight games. The road series sweep also happened to be the team's first since 2021.
- Iowa State snapped a seven-game skid to Arizona State in its third conference series, besting the Sun Devils for the first time since 1998, earning a second-straight Big 12 series win.
- For the Cyclones, it was their first back-to-back Big 12 series victory since 2023, when they downed Baylor and Kansas to close the season.
- ISU took game one of the conference series against BYU, marking four straight series with a series-opening win.
- The Cyclones earned their first road series win over a ranked opponent at No. 17 Oklahoma State, taking the series 2-1.
- The rubber match win over the Cowgirls gave ISU its ninth conference win of the season, setting a new single-season program high.
- The win also gave ISU its third conference series win of the season – the most in a single season in school history.
- ISU took two of three games on Easter weekend to claim its fourth conference series win of the season.
- In its penultimate week of the regular season, Iowa State played six games in seven days, earning a 5-1 record. As part of the five-win week, ISU claimed its fifth conference series win of the season and third on the road.
- The Cyclones closed the regular season taking the home finale stand over Baylor, 2-1, and securing the team's sixth conference series win of the year.
- The Baylor series secured ISU's first-round bye as a three seed. The team's third-place finish is the highest ever in Big 12 play.
- Iowa State hit the 30-win mark for the third time under Coach Pinkerton in 2025. Prior to his arrival in 2018, ISU's last 30-win season came in 1989.
- Iowa State secured its third Big 12 semifinal appearance in the last four years on Thursday, as it dispatched BYU 4-2.
- 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.
- Freshman pitcher Sami Potvin hurled a five-inning perfect game against Grambling State, striking out a career-high nine batters.
On Deck
Should the Cyclones defeat (2) Arizona, Iowa State would then play the winner of (1) Texas Tech and (5) Arizona State in the finals. A potential championship game would be scheduled for Saturday, May 10, at 11 a.m.
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
LHP
/ Softball
RHP
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INF
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