Cyclones Swept on Opening Day

MIAMI, Fla. – Iowa State (0-2) suffered a pair of losses on the opening day of the 2025 season at the Felsberg Invitational. The Cyclones fell to Stony Brook (1-0) by a score of 8-2 in the opening game before falling to host school FIU (2-0) in extras, 7-6.

Iowa State's first game was highlighted by Cyclone errors and runners left on base, as each played a part in ISU's six-run loss. The story of the game of ISU was its newcomers. Freshman Jessie Clemons had three hits in her collegiate debut, the most by a freshman under Pinkerton in their debut. Transfers Sydney Malott and Reagan Bartholomew also played crucial roles, as they each had an RBI.

In Iowa State's second game against FIU, they were able to cut down on the runners left on base, but errors still persisted. The FIU winning run in the eighth ended up coming on an error. There were bright spots, though, as Malott tied her personal best with three hits, while Bartholomew had a 3RBI double.

Stony Brook 8, ISU 2
Stony Brook pulled away with an 8-2 win over Iowa State in both teams' first game of the Felsberg Invitational. In the two teams' first-ever meeting, the Seawolves used ten hits and a quartet of errors to earn a season-opening win.

Plenty of new faces saw the field for ISU on Friday morning, but none was more impressive than freshman Jessie Clemons. Clemons, a Bettendorf, Iowa native, went 3-4 at the plate with a trio of singles to lead all players in hits. ISU's pair of transfers, Reagan Bartholomew and Sydney Malott, accounted for ISU's pair of runs, as each had an RBI.

Jaiden Ralston earned the nod in the circle in the team's opener allowing three unearned runs and a pair of hits, while striking out three in two innings of work. Freshman Abby Huhn would relieve Ralston, pitching 2.1 innings in her collegiate debut. Lauren Schurman finished the game, striking out five in 2.2 innings while allowing one unearned run.

Stony Brook was able to keep Angelina Allen, Iowa State's returning All-American, quiet at the plate, as she went 0-2 with a pair of walks – tied for a game-high. The Seawolves allowed just one extra-base hit, a double, as ISU left 12 on base.

How it Happened
The Cyclones struck first in the 2025 season-opener, plating one in the bottom of the first. With two outs, both Bartholomew and Ashley Minor drew walks to put a pair on. Malott then stepped into the box and laced a single into left to plate Bartholomew and put the Cyclones on top.

The Seawolves struck back in the top of the second, capitalizing on an ISU error to plate three unearned runs on a triple into right-center.

SBU added another in the fourth, as a Madelyn Stepski solo shot pushed the Seawolf lead to three.

Three more Stony Brook runs would cross the plate in the fifth, thanks to a pair of RBI singles and an unearned run on a wild pitch.

Iowa State notched its second run in the sixth, cutting the lead to 7-2. A Clemons single was followed with Allen's second walk of the day before Bartholomew stepped back into the box for a fourth time. She knocked her first hit as a Cyclone into right to plate Clemons to trim the lead to five.

SBU plated one final run in the seventh and then held the Cyclones scoreless in the bottom of the frame to hold on for an 8-2 win.

Friday G1 Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: N/A
Stony Brook: Madelyn Stepski (1)

WP – Gabrielle Maday (1-0): 7.0 IP, 7 hits, 2 runs, 7 walks, 7 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Jaiden Ralston (0-1): 2.0 IP, 2 hits, 3 runs (0 earned), 3 walks, 3 strikeouts

FIU 7, ISU 6 (8)
Iowa State dropped Friday night's game to FIU on a walk-off error which saw the Panthers' Kally Meredith touch them all and earn a second-straight walk off win for FIU.

Seven of Iowa State's starters recorded hits, with Malott tallying a game-high three. Bartholomew chipped in a game-high three RBI, while Allen earned the team's only walk.

Stats were pretty even across the board, with Iowa State and FIU each notching nine hits and a pair of errors. The Panthers left 10 on base, while ISU left seven.

Four pitchers took the circle for ISU, including freshman Sami Potvin who made her collegiate debut and earned her first career start. Lauren Schurman (0-1) picked up the loss, striking out one in her 2.2 innings of action.

How it Happened
There were no runs produced on either side in the first two frames, with the highlight being Potvin escaping a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the first.

ISU jumped on the board first for the second time on Friday, plating one on an Allen double – her first of the season. Allen was able to drive in Sereniti Trice, who was making her first collegiate start – after she earned her first career hit, a single.

FIU struck back immediately in the bottom of the third, plating two on three hits.

The Cyclones tied things up in the fourth thanks to Ashley Minor. With one out, Malott doubled to left center before Minor would drive her in with a single into the outfield.

Iowa State retook the lead in the fifth, as a single, a fielder's choice and a walk loaded the bases. Bartholomew stepped into the box, and, with no outs, delivered a double into right-center to plate all three, clearing the bases.

A 2RBI single from the Panthers in the bottom of the frame would trim the Cyclone lead to 5-4.

Neither team would score in the sixth, but a timely hit from the Panthers in the bottom of the seventh – with two outs – would tie things up.

In the eighth, a Malott single put ISU back up and put runners on first and second with no outs. ISU would eventually load the bases, but a great backhand snag from FIU quelled Hayleigh Oliver's near bloop and ended the frame.

In the bottom of the eighth, with a runner on second, FIU hit an infield grounder, but an error would allow for both the batter and the runner from second to score, ending the game.

Friday G2 Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: N/A
FIU: N/A

WP – Brooke McNichols (1-0): 4.0 IP, 3 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Lauren Schurman (0-1): 2.2 IP, 4 hits, 4 runs (2 earned), 2 walks, 1 strikeout

On Deck
ISU will be back in action tomorrow, playing Indiana at 8 a.m. CT. The game against Indiana will NOT be streamed. Their second contest's start time and opponent have yet to be determined.

Players Mentioned

Angelina Allen

Reagan Bartholomew

Jessie Clemons

Abby Huhn

Sydney Malott

Ashley Minor

Hayleigh Oliver

Sami Potvin

Jaiden Ralston

Lauren Schurman

Sereniti Trice