Completed Event: Softball versus DMACC on September 17, 2025
Final
Softball
DMACC
Iowa State University Athletics
Saturday, May 6
Lawrence, Kan.
2:00 PM
Iowa State University
24-28, 6-11
7
at
5
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Kansas
23-26, 4-13
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Iowa State
3
3
0
0
0
0
1
7
11
0
Kansas
3
2
0
0
0
0
0
5
12
2
Cyclones Clinch Second-Straight Big 12 Series with 7-5 Win
05.06.2023 | Softball
LAWRENCE, Kan. – For the second weekend in a row, Iowa State clinched a Big 12 series victory. The Cyclones downed Kansas, 7-5, by using some productive early innings before tacking on an insurance run in the seventh.
The Cyclones (24-28, 6-11 Big 12) have now moved into fifth place in the Big 12 standings, pushing ahead of both Texas Tech and KU. The Jayhawks (23-26, 4-13 Big 12) used two homers to bring across their five runs but were unable to muster any other runs as they dropped their second straight game.
Four different Cyclones recorded multi-hit games on the day while Carli Spelahaug (3) and Milaysia Ochoa (2) were the only players to notch multiple RBI on the afternoon.
Iowa State had four different players take the circle in today's action, as Ellie Spelhaug came away with her sixth win of the season when the dust settled. Saya Swain closed the Jayhawks down, earning her sixth save of the season and her second straight.
Coach Pinkerton now sits at 157 career wins at Iowa State which is tied for the third most in team history with Ruth Crowe. One more win would push Pinkerton into sole possession of third.
Iowa State recorded 11 hits on the day, tying the second most it's had in a single game this season. It's the eighth time this year ISU has recorded 10+ hits in a game this season.
How it Happened
For its third-straight game, Iowa State put runs on the board in the first inning of work. Milaysia Ochoa started the Cyclones off, singling to short. Then, with one out, Angelina Allen was able to get on board thanks to a Jayhawk error which would push her to second and Ochoa to third. Carli Spelhaug stepped into the box and delivered a single down the left line which, bounced off the third base bag to bring in both Ochoa and Allen. Alesia Ranches matched Spelhaug's single with one of her own to put runners on first and second. A failed attempted pickoff from the Jayhawks allowed Spelhaug to come home and give the Cyclones a 3-0 lead.
The Jayhawks took little time to match Iowa State's three runs, plating a trio in the bottom of the first. KU's second and third batters reached on a double and single before being brought home by Hailey Cripe who tanked a home run over the left field fence to knot the contest up at three. The two teams combined for seven hits in the first inning which was more than the teams combined for in a full seven innings in game one.
The Cyclones tacked on another three runs in the top of the second inning to take a 6-3 lead. Tiana Poole led the inning off with a single and Camille Marin followed it up with a double to put two runners in scoring position and force a KU pitching change. Ochoa came through, knocking a double down the right field line to plate both runners and put Iowa State up two. A Ramos single and Allen walk would load the bases for ISU and bring Ranches up to the plate. She would hit into a fielder's choice where an out was forced at third, but Ochoa was able to score which pushed the Iowa State lead to three.
Kansas again used the long ball to pull back within striking range, as Haleigh Harper blasted her second home run of the season following a leadoff single to bring two more runs across the plate for the Jayhawks. Ellie Spelhaug would enter in the second with no outs and get ISU out of the inning with a 6-5 lead.
After a torrid start from both teams, neither would be able to score for the next four innings. Iowa State would snap the scoreless streak in the top of the seventh, plating an extra insurance run to extend its lead to 7-5. Ramos earned a leadoff walk and Lea Nelson would enter to pinch run. Nelson would go on to steal second and advance to third on an Allen groundout. Carli Spelhaug notched her second hit of the day, a single to right center, to bring in Nelson and earn her third RBI of the day.
Saya Swain was able to force the final three outs in the bottom of the seventh, securing her sixth save of the season, and giving the Cyclones their 24th win of the season.
Saturday Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: N/A
Kansas: Hailey Cripe (4), Haleigh Harper (2)
WP – Ellie Spelhaug (6-7): 3.0 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts
SV – Saya Swain (6): 3.0 IP, 3 hits, 0 runs, 4 walks, 3 strikeouts
LP – Lizzy Ludwig (4-8): 1.0 IP, 5 hits, 5 runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout
On Deck
Iowa State will return to Arrocha Ballpark tomorrow afternoon for the series finale against the Kansas Jayhawks. It will be game number 52 for the Cyclones and will cap off the 2023 regular season. Tomorrow's action is set to start at 12 p.m. and will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
-ISU-
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Spelhaug, Ellie (7-7)
L: Ludwig, L. (4-8)
S: Swain, Saya (1)
Batting:
2B: Ochoa, Milaysia 1 ; Marin, Camille 1
RBI: Ochoa, Milaysia 2 ; Spelhaug, Carli 3 ; Ranches, Alesia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ochoa, Milaysia 2 ; Nelson, Lea 1 ; Allen, Angelina 1 ; Spelhaug, Carli 1 ; Poole, Tiana 1 ; Marin, Camille 1
SB: Nelson, Lea 1
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Batting:
2B: Moore, L. 1
HR: Cripe, H. 1 ; Harper, H 1
RBI: Cripe, H. 3 ; Harper, H 2
SH: DesRochers 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Moore, L. 1 ; Bruno, O. 1 ; Cripe, H. 1 ; Espy, S 1 ; Harper, H 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
/ SoftballC/INF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
UTL
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballUTL
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
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