Upcoming Event: Softball versus Omaha on February 6, 2026 at 10 a.m.
10 a.m.
Softball
Omaha
Iowa State University Athletics
Friday, May 12
Oklahoma City, Okla.
1 p.m.
Iowa State
vs
Oklahoma
Cyclones to Face Top-Ranked Oklahoma in Round Two
05.11.2023 | Softball
OKLAHOMA CITY – After finishing the regular season strong, winning 11 of its final 15 games, Iowa State continued its solid play, downing No. 15 Baylor for the third time this season in round one of the Big 12 Championship. This marks the second straight season that Iowa State will meet Oklahoma in the second round of the Big 12 Championship, as the Cyclones fell to the Sooners last season 0-5.
Ellie Spelhaug tossed a gem of a game on Thursday, limiting No. 15 Baylor to just one run on two hits as Iowa State defeated the Bears 8-1. Angelina Allen had a team-high four hits as ISU tallied a season-best 16 hits to push past the Bears.
The Matchup: Iowa State (25-29, 6-12 Big 12) vs. No. 1 Oklahoma (49-1, 18-0 Big 12)
Where: USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium // Oklahoma City
When: May 2 – 1 p.m.
Watch: ESPNU
Live Stats: cyclones.com
Quick Hits
- The Cyclones earned their second-straight Big 12 Championship round one win over Baylor as ISU met the Bears in the postseason for the third straight season.
- Iowa State and Oklahoma will meet in the second round of the Big 12 Championship for the second straight season, as the two met last year in the same circumstances (with ISU beating Baylor in round one).
- ISU notched its second series victory of the season this past weekend, taking two-of-three against Kansas after taking two-of-three against then-No. 18 Baylor.
- Iowa State defeated in-state foe Iowa for the fourth straight time on April 26, punctuating the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series with a win and pushing the school to its largest margin of victory in series history (17-8).
- With ISU's win over Drake, Iowa State has defeated all three DI schools from the state of Iowa in the 2023 campaign.
- ISU defeated No. 3 Oklahoma State on April 16, tying the program record for the highest-ranked team ever defeated - ISU also took down No. 3 Texas in Austin in 2005.
- It is the second-straight season ISU downed a top 10-ranked OSU team. The Cyclone win gave OSU its first Big 12 loss.
- ISU is up to 78 in the RPI and is one of five teams in the top 80 to have a losing record (Kansas, Arizona State, Georgia Tech & North Carolina).
- Both Milaysia Ochoa and Mikayla Ramos hit RBI milestones this season and each is ranked in the top ten in school history. Ochoa tallied her 100th career RBI against Iowa, bringing four runs across the plate in her two-home run outing, while Ramos earned her 150th RBI against Colorado State.
- Ochoa has been hit by a pitch nine times this season, the fourth most in a single season in school history.
- Ochoa has 12 home runs this season, the seventh most in a single season in school history.
- ISU's Saya Swain (8.8) ranks among the top 50 nationally in strikeouts per seven innings.
- Swain leads the Big 12 in saves with six. Her six saves set an Iowa State single-season record.
- Coach Pinkerton earned a milestone victory, number 500, in the April 22 game one win over CSU. He is one of three active coaches leading three teams to the NCAA Tournament (ISU, Montana, Arkansas).
- Ten of ISU's losses have come to top ten teams this season, No. 6 Arkansas, No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 9 Texas and No. 3 Okla. State.
Iowa State …
in the Tournament
Angelina Allen led the team at the plate in its first Big 12 Championship game, going four-of-five at the plate with two doubles and a pair of RBI. Seniors Sarah Tyree and Kasey Simpson also have had multi-hit games in the tourney, each turning in three hits. Milaysia Ochoa reached base four times in game one, earning two free passes and a pair of hits.
As for pitching in the tournament, it's been all Ellie Spelhaug. She allowed just two hits, pitching her first complete game of the season, and allowed just one run. She totaled six strikeouts, placing her one off her career-high of seven.
on the Season
Milaysia Ochoa (.323) and Mikayla Ramos (.296) lead the team in batting average and are the only Cyclones with more than 45 hits on the season. Ochoa has a team-high 13 doubles and 12 home runs while also leading the team in RBI with 33. Carli Spelhaug has earned the most walks and has a team-high 13 stolen bases on the season. Spelhaug also has four triples, the second most in the Big 12.
ISU rotates four primary pitchers in the circle, as Karlie Charles (4-2) holds the lowest ERA on the team at a 3.35. Charles has walked just ten players this season, the fewest among Big 12 players. Saya Swain (5-8) leads the team in strikeouts, as she currently sits at 119. Senior Ellie Spelhaug (8-8) has pitched the most innings of anyone on staff (106.2), making appearances in a team-high 37 games. Freshman Jaiden Ralston and Tatum Johnson round out the staff.
Series History
- Oklahoma leads, 28-91
- Last Meeting: 3/25/23 (L, 0-10, 5 Inn.)
- Last Cyclone Win: 4/22/06 (W, 5-2)
- Streak: L44
On Deck
With a win, Iowa State would advance to the championship game of the Big 12 Tournament on Saturday, May 13. With a loss, Iowa State's season would conclude.
-ISU-
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF
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