ISU Splits Doubleheader With No. 6 Oklahoma State

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State (20-18, 1-3 Big 12) defeated No. 6 Oklahoma State (30-7, 7-1 Big 12), 3-1, in the front end of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at the Cyclone Sports Complex before falling to the Cowgirls, 3-5, in game two. The game-one victory over OSU marks the highest ranked opponent the Cyclones have defeated since 2005 and the eighth win over a top 10 foe in program history.

The Cyclones' win was the first over Oklahoma State since 2018, snapping a nine-game losing streak to the Cowgirls.

Game One – ISU 3, OSU 1
Saya Swain and Ellie Spelhaug combined to toss a one-hitter in the series opener. Swain struck out 10 in her 4.2-inning start while Ellie Spelhaug earned the win after not allowing a hit in her 2.1-inning relief appearance.

Alesia Ranches (2-of-3, 1 R) logged the only multi-hit outing of the game to pace ISU at the plate, but it was Mikayla Ramos' RBI single in the bottom of the fifth that put the Cyclones on top for good. Skyler Ramos added an insurance run in the sixth with an RBI double to right-center field to cross Ranches.

Iowa State handed Oklahoma State's reigning two-time Big 12 Pitcher of the Week, Kelly Maxwell, her first loss of the season. Maxwell entered Friday's contest with a 12-0 record and a 1.03 ERA.

Oklahoma State's lone run of the game came in the top of the fifth on a wild pitch. OSU threatened for more, but Spelhaug forced a groundout from the first batter she faced to strand a pair of Cowgirls in scoring position.

Game Two – ISU 3, OSU 5
Oklahoma State evened the series with a 5-3 victory in the second game of the day. Angelina Allen and Milaysia Ochoa each homered in the contest, their second and third home runs of the year, respectively.

Ellie Spelhaug (6-12) was tagged with the loss in the circle after allowing four earned runs on eight hits in five innings. Karlie Charles logged two innings of relief work and struck out two while allowing no runs and only two hits.

Oklahoma State scored first with a run in the opening frame before Allen's two-run bomb in the home half of the inning put the Cyclones on top, 2-1. A Cowgirl run in the third, followed by a three-run burst for the visitors in the fourth gave Iowa State a 5-1 deficit with three innings remaining.

Ochoa's home run in the sixth would bring ISU back within two, but the Cyclones couldn't muster a rally as they fell, 5-3.

Up Next
Iowa State and No. 6 Oklahoma State square off in a rubber match Sunday at noon at the Cyclone Sports Complex. That game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

Players Mentioned

Angelina Allen

Karlie Charles

Milaysia Ochoa

Mikayla Ramos

Skyler Ramos

Alesia Ranches

Ellie Spelhaug

Saya Swain