Iowa State Earns Pair of Friday Victories

Friday, March 13

Columbia, Mo.

12 p.m.

Iowa State

14-9

Minnesota

9-17

Minnesota

Iowa State

Photo by: Iowa State Athletics

Iowa State Earns Pair of Friday Victories

03.13.2026 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 G1 Box Score (.pdf)

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Iowa State (15-9, 0-3 Big 12) snapped a three-game losing streak with a pair of Friday victories, defeating both Minnesota (9-17, 1-2 Big Ten) and South Dakota (7-18-1, 0-0 Summit).

The Cyclones opened Friday action against the Gophers, downing Minnesota for the second time this season behind a dominant showing from Lauren Schurman and the Cyclone defense. Schurman tossed her first complete-game shutout in a 3-0 win.

Iowa State's offense exploded for nine runs in the second contest, as the Cyclones raced past South Dakota 9-4 in the first of two meetings this year.

Iowa State 3, Minnesota 0
It was a pitcher's duel early, as neither team had a hit through three innings. A three-run fourth, which saw ISU collect half of its total hits, provided all the cushion Iowa State needed as Lauren Schurman earned a complete-game shutout.

ISU's six hits were scattered across six players, with Jessie Clemons earning the only extra-base hit (a double) for the team. Victoria Prado had a massive pinch-hit, two-RBI single.

Brooklyn Jones had a game-high two hits for the Gophers, while the other four UMN knocks went to separate athletes. Sydney Shwartz started the game and picked up the loss, allowing all three runs.

How it Happened
Neither team had a hit through the first three frames, as the only baserunners were allowed via walk.

In the fourth, Minnesota picked up its first hit of the game, but left a single stranded. In the bottom half ISU broke through and got on the board. With two on and one out, Kadence Shepherd singled up the middle to plate the first run of the game. Later, with the bases loaded and two outs, Prado sent a single into center to plate two more and put ISU on top, 3-0.

The Gophers threatened in the sixth, putting two on the basepaths, but were continually shutout as ISU would go on to earn its second shutout win of the season.

Friday G1 Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: N/A
Minnesota: N/A

WP – Lauren Schurman (6-2): 7.0 IP, 5 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Sydney Schwartz (5-7): 3.1 IP, 2 hits, 3 runs, 4 walks, 2 strikeouts

Iowa State 9, South Dakota 4
USD struck first in game two, plating a pair in the second frame. But seven unanswered runs from the Cyclones would do the trick as ISU picked up an opening-day sweep.

Reagan Bartholomew had a game-high three hits, while both Jessie Clemons and Hayleigh Oliver had two. Clemons, Oliver and McKenna Andrews each had home runs in the game.

Kiya Johnson was the only Coyote with multiple hits on the day, collecting two and drawing a walk. USD had three players earn RBI, with the fourth run coming on a wild pitch.

How it Happened
After a scoreless first frame, South Dakota got on the board first in the second. A leadoff walk was immediately moved to third on an Ella McGee double to put a pair in scoring position. A wild pitch would advance both runners, scoring USD its first run of the game. A groundout RBI scored run number two for the Coyotes as they took a 2-0 lead into the third.

In the third, Oliver took the second pitch she saw into left field for a single to start off the frame. The very next batter, Andrews, took the ball for a ride and homered to left field to tie the game at two-all.

It was a similar story for the Cyclones in the third, as a one-out walk from Kasey Kane set the stage for another long ball. Oliver again jumped on the second pitch she saw, sending it over the center field fence to make it 4-2 in favor of Iowa State.

Neither side could scratch anything across in the fifth, but ISU would get back to its scoring ways in the sixth. A leadoff single and a one-out walk would put two on for the Cyclones. Eventually, with two outs, Clemons stepped into the box and blasted her third homer of the season to put ISU on top 7-2.

The Cyclones would tack on two more runs for good measure in the seventh. USD attempted to rally in the bottom of the frame, but only brought two runs in before falling to ISU, 9-4.

Friday G2 Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: McKenna Andrews (2), Hayleigh Oliver (2), Jessie Clemons (3)
South Dakota: N/A

WP – Liv Palumbo (6-2): 3.1 IP, 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Campbell German (0-5): 3.0 IP, 6 hits, 5 runs, 2 walks, 1 strikeout

On Deck

The Cyclones will be back in action tomorrow, March 14, when it faces Missouri at 5 pm in the weekend finale. Tomorrow's game against the Tigers will be streamed live on SEC Network+.