ISU Drops Series to No. 2 Texas Tech

Saturday, March 28

Lubbock, Texas

2 p.m.

Iowa State

20-12, 3-5

Texas Tech

33-2, 10-1

Iowa State

Texas Tech

Photo by: Big 12 Conference

ISU Drops Series to No. 2 Texas Tech

03.28.2026 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (.pdf)

LUBBOCK, Texas – Iowa State (21-12, 3-5 Big 12) dropped its second league series of the season on Saturday, falling game two to No. 2 Texas Tech (33-2, 10-1 Big 12) by a score of 10-2 in five innings.

Unlike yesterday, Tech started hot, jumping out to a 7-1 lead in the first two frames to set the tone. The Red Raiders finished with 12 hits, but only one went for extra bases. ISU, on the other hand, had four hits, with three going for extra bases.

Kadence Shepherd had two hits, earning her second multi-hit game of the month. She accounted for both ISU runs and one RBI, smashing her sixth homer of the season. Tatum Johnson and Victoria Prado had the team's other two hits, with each being a double. Tiana Poole worked a pair of walks.

Jaiden Ralston (1-4) got the start, pitching the first inning for ISU. Lauren Schurman would pitch the second inning, while Liv Palumbo handled innings three through five.

For Tech, three Red Raiders had multiple hits as Mia Williams led the way with three knocks. Williams had the team's only XBH, a solo shot in the fifth. Kaitlyn Terry (13-0) pitched all five innings, allowing two runs on four hits, and added a hit and a pair of runs at the plate.

How it Happened
Tech jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, plating four runs on four hits in the opening inning. Two-out RBI singles from both Taylor Pannell and Hailey Toney paired with a two-out two-RBI single from Jasmyn Burns as the Red Raiders took the lead.

For the second-straight day, Kadence Shepherd smashed a solo shot in the second inning, putting ISU on the board. Shepherd took a 2-0 pitch yard and made the score 4-1.

TTU responded with three more runs in the bottom of the second frame to increase its lead to 7-1.

The Red Raiders would add two more in the third, pushing the lead to 9-1, as the game turned to the fourth.

A one-out single from Shepherd got ISU started in the fourth frame. A Poole walk would then put two on with two outs. Pinch-hitting, Victoria Prado doubled into right-center, plating Shepherd and making it a 9-2 game.

Tech would walk things off in the bottom of the fifth for a second-straight day, as a Williams solo homer pushed the lead to eight, forcing a run-rule win.

Saturday Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: Kadence Shepherd (6)
Texas Tech: Mia Williams (13)

WP – Kaitlyn Terry (13-0): 5.0 IP, 4 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Jaiden Ralston (1-4): 1.0 IP, 4 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, 1 strikeout

On Deck
The Cyclones will close the weekend series against Texas Tech tomorrow, March 29, when they return to Tracy Sellers Field for the finale. Sunday's contest is slated to start at noon and will be streamed live on ESPN+.