Three Big Takeaways: Iowa State splits doubleheader against South Dakota State

AMES—Iowa State softball break up a doubleheader Tuesday towards the South Dakota State Jackrabbits.

An Iowa State comeback fell brief in recreation one after eight runners have been left on base. South Dakota State, the leaders within the Summit League, prolonged its six-game successful streak to seven by a rating of 4-3.

The Cyclones then discovered an offensive spark in recreation two. Iowa State jumped out to a three-run lead and gained the second recreation 8-1. 

Offensive spark 

Iowa State head coach Jamie Pinkerton is aware of Iowa State is a greater hitting staff than its .228 batting common. 

The Iowa State offense has been quiet at Cyclone Sports activities Advanced this season, however based mostly on the final three years of Iowa State softball, the pinnacle coach is aware of his lineup is succesful. 

The Cyclones confronted two of the nation’s high groups to begin the house season. Towards No. 9 Texas and No. 1 Oklahoma Iowa State scored 5 runs in six video games. The Huge 12 convention giants got here to Cyclone Sports activities Advanced and shut out the Cyclones 3 times.

In Tuesday’s doubleheader, the Cyclones recorded 14 hits and 12 runs. The eight runs in recreation two helped finish the South Dakota State successful streak and have been essentially the most scored by Iowa State since March 10 towards Niagara. Iowa State hitters Angelina Allen and Milaysia Ochoa hit the second, third and fourth residence runs of the season for Iowa State at Cyclone Sports activities Advanced. 

“That was Cyclone softball,” Pinkerton mentioned postgame. “That’s the way in which we’ve regarded the final three years.”

Ochoa recorded 4 additional base hits in Tuesday’s pair of video games. The lead-off hitter entered the sport because the Iowa State chief in slugging proportion at .535. In seven at-bats Tuesday, she slugged for 2 doubles and two residence runs.

Ochoa additionally prolonged her clubhouse lead within the residence run column with two residence runs in recreation two. In three straight at bats Ochoa hit an additional base hit and scored a run. 

Ochoa has now handed her earlier single-season excessive with eight residence runs. Ochoa, a local of Chino, California, had seven residence runs throughout her freshman season in 2021.

“We have been capable of put some barrels on some balls after we wanted to,” Ochoa mentioned. 

Allen recorded her third residence run of the season through the first inning of recreation one Tuesday. Allen had 4 residence runs throughout her freshman season in 2022. 

Mikayla Ramos had a productive pair of video games Tuesday and continued to make her presence felt within the Iowa State document books. Ramos was two-for-four in recreation one, and in recreation two, she drove in her 149th profession RBI.

Her fifth inning single scored Ochoa for the fourth-Iowa State run. Ramos is now tied for second on the Iowa State all-time profession RBI listing.

Cyclones stranded in recreation one

Iowa State left eight runners on base in recreation one, together with 4 in scoring place.

All through recreation one, the Cyclones managed to seek out their means onto the basepaths. The Iowa State offense, nonetheless, didn’t herald any runs after the primary inning.

Ochoa led off the doubleheader with a double to left middle area. Ochoa’s extra-base hit got here after the Jackrabbits capitalized off three walks by Cyclone beginning pitcher Jaiden Ralston.

South Dakota State recorded three runs after a single from Lindsey Culver with the bases loaded. Culver earned two RBIs whereas one other got here throughout the plate because of an Iowa State error.

Karlie Charles entered to interchange Ralston within the circle earlier than the Cyclones recorded an out. Charles did strike out the facet within the first inning however not earlier than the Jackrabbits gained the three-run lead.

After the primary inning scoring by each groups, a Cyclone hitter reached base in every inning. No Cyclone runs got here throughout till a seventh-inning comeback almost put the Cyclones within the lead.

Within the seventh, two walks and a success loaded the bases for Iowa State. Ochoa scored for Iowa State after a wild pitch, however with two runners nonetheless on base, the Cyclone execution failed.

Iowa State tried a suicide squeeze with the pinch runner Lea Nelson on third base. Kasey Simpson’s bunt try failed, and Nelson was caught between third and residential in a rundown. Nelson was referred to as out and Simpson’s floor out ended recreation one with South Dakota State in entrance.

Tiana Poole has a day

Iowa State freshman Tiana Poole stuffed her field rating and contributed to Iowa State’s offensive manufacturing Tuesday. 

In recreation one, Poole was one-for-two and reached base 3 times. 

In recreation two, Poole recorded one other hit in three at bats and added an RBI to her field rating. 

Poole additionally made performs within the area. The correct fielder made a nine-to-three put out within the third inning of recreation two.

Iowa State will face one other Huge 12 convention chief subsequent. The Cyclones will journey to No. 3 Oklahoma State for a three-game sequence beginning Friday.