Softball Preps for South Dakota & Cy-Hawk Showdown

AMES, Iowa - The Iowa State softball team has a busy week ahead, as the Cyclones have a home doubleheader vs. South Dakota set for Tuesday, before a Cy-Hawk showdown against Iowa on Wednesday at the Cyclone Sports Complex. The Iowa State-South Dakota double dip starts Tuesday at 2 p.m., while Wednesday's rivalry game is set for 4 p.m.

Fan Information
This year's edition of the Cy-Hawk game has added significance, as the Cyclones are fighting to keep the series trophy in Ames for an unprecedented third-straight year. As such, the following events will take place at the game on Wednesday at the Cyclone Sports Complex:

-Free tailgate (hot dogs, burgers, chips and drink) for Iowa State faculty, staff and students with an Iowa State ID.
-Postgame student home run derby. The first 20 signups will be accepted. Registration starts at 3:30 p.m., and participants must bring their own pitcher (underhand only).
-One student will be drawn randomly for a chance to win $20,000 by pitching three balls through a target.
-Iowa State men's basketball player Naz Long will throw out the honorary first pitch.

A live stream for all of Iowa State's home games this week will be available through Cyclones.tv Powered by Mediacom. Live stats for all games will also be available at the link above. For further coverage of the Iowa State softball team, follow @CycloneSB on Twitter.

Cyclone Headlines
1. The Iowa State softball team (15-24, 0-6 Big 12) plays host to South Dakota (13-27, 7-2 Summit League) on Tuesday in a home doubleheader (2 & 4 p.m.) to open the week. The Cyclones then turn around and face in-state foe Iowa (12-28, 2-11 Big Ten) on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

2. ISU's Wednesday date with the Hawkeyes has some added significance, as it is the final game of the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series. This year's finale will decide which school wins the trophy. The Cyclones can force a tie between the two universities with a win, which would keep the trophy Ames for an unprecendented third-consecutive year.

3. Last season, the Cyclones clinched the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk series for Iowa State with a 5-4 victory over Iowa in Iowa City. Aly Cappaert launched a home run in the fifth inning to help lift ISU to victory.

4. The Cyclones are coming off their bye weekend, and have not played since April 14, when they lost to Omaha 6-4 on a three-run Maverick rally in the seventh inning.

5. Cyclone senior Brittany Gomez made history once again, becoming the first player in school history to be selected in the National Pro Fastpitch Draft. Gomez was taken with the No. 28 overall pick by the Pennsylvanio Rebellion.

6. Brittany Gomez has come on strong of late and showed why she was one of the top returning offensive players in the conference. The senior is hitting .412 (14-for-34) over the past 10 games and is now tied for third in the Big 12 in hits at 54. She has played four fewer games than the co-leader Jessie Scroggins (BU).

7. Gomez has recorded a hit in 36 of Iowa State's 39 games so far this season. She has reached base safely in 38 of Iowa State's games. The senior is second in the Big 12 in steals (21) and first steals per game (.51). Against OSU she became the first player in school history with 20+ steals in four consecutive seasons.

8. Freshman Kaylee Bosworth provided the highlight of last weekend in Stillwater in game two of the series on Saturday. With the score knotted at 6-6, Bosworth launched a grand slam to dead center, clearing the bases and giving the Cyclones a 10-6 advantage. It was the freshman's second home run of the season.

9. The play continued Bosworth's impressive week. She had previously set a new season-high with three RBIs vs. Drake. The first baseman was 2-of-3 at the plate on the day, including a 2-RBI double to center in the top of the first inning.

10. The Cyclones fell in a pair of road games last week against instate foes. On Tuesday, Iowa State dropped a 9-5 decision to Drake, followed by a 3-2 loss to UNI on Wednesday.