Cyclones Split Opening Day of Dream City Invitational

Friday, February 13

Arlington, Texas

10 a.m.

Iowa State

3-3

Wisconsin

4-2

Wisconsin

Iowa State

Photo by: Wisconsin Athletics / Ashley Steltenpohl

Cyclones Split Opening Day of Dream City Invitational

02.13.2026 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 G1 Box Score (.pdf)G2 Box Score (.pdf)

ARLINGTON, Texas – Iowa State (4-3) split its opening day of the Dream City Invitational on Friday, falling to Wisconsin (4-2) by a score of 5-1 before besting Tulsa (1-5) by a score of 9-5.

The Cyclones and Badgers were in a tightly-contested pitchers' duel to kick off the tournament, as each side had one run heading into the seventh inning. A four-run frame from Wisconsin helped the Badgers pull away and earn a win.

ISU had to overcome a three-run deficit in game two, as a pair of four-run innings helped fuel the Cyclone comeback win. After Tulsa put a three-spot on the board in the first, ISU scored four in both the fourth and sixth to earn its first win of the tournament.

Wisconsin 5, Iowa State 4
After a hot start at the plate in its opening weekend, ISU saw its prolific offense, which had scored at least four runs in every game, stymied against Wisconsin as the Badgers held ISU in check with just one run.

Jessie Clemons accounted for three of the team's five hits on the day (two of which were doubles), as the sophomore had her third multi-hit game of the young season. Both Sydney Malott and Tiana Poole provided the team's other knocks. Clemons also had the team's only RBI, driving in Poole.

Wisconsin's leadoff batter, Emily Bojan, led the way with a pair of hits and an RBI. She would have the only homer of the game. Kendra Lewis had a game-high two RBI. In the circle, Berritt Herr went the distance, hurling a complete game and striking out four.

How it Happened
Friday's first game was a tight one through four, as neither team was able to scratch across a run as each squad escaped multiple innings with runners in scoring position without allowing any damage.

That changed in the fifth, when Bojan poked a solo homer over the left field fence to put the Badgers in front, 1-0.

The Cyclones answered immediately in the bottom of the frame, as Poole led off with a double to left-center. After a sacrifice bunt from McKenna Andrews, Clemons drove in Poole on a double down the left line. ISU would load the bases, but a pair of pop-ups ended the threat.

Both teams would again hold serve in the sixth as the game turned to the seventh, tied at one-all.

Though ISU got the leadoff batter out, a subsequent pair of walks put Wisconsin in business. After the runner on second stole third, a sac bunt single would bring her across for the lead. A double would then clear the bases and make it 4-1. Another double scored the runner from second and the Badgers found themselves with a four-run lead heading back into the field.

ISU would go down in order, snapping a two-game win streak.

Friday G1 Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: N/A
Wisconsin: Emily Bojan (1)

WP – Berritt Herr (2-2): 7.0 IP, 5 hits, 1 run, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Lauren Schurman (2-2): 3.2 IP, 6 hits, 4 runs, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts

Iowa State 9, Tulsa 5
Iowa State bounced back in game two action, overcoming a three-run deficit to beat Tulsa for the first time since 2018. A pair of crooked innings would help the Cyclones score their third-highest amount of runs in a game this season.

Three Cyclones had multi-hit outings, with Malott leading the way with three knocks. Both Karlee Ford and Tatum Johnson would each finish with two, each nabbing their second multi-hit game of the year. Malott, Kadence Shepherd and Hayleigh Oliver all had multiple RBI. Live Palumbo got the start, while both Ava Mullen (1-1) and Lauren Schurman (1) hurled three innings each in reserve.

Like ISU, three Golden Hurricane athletes had multiple hits. Mackenzy Glenn, Amber Turner and Aliya Scarborough finished with two hits apiece to lead the way. Three Tulsa players had RBI, while Daeya Moses drew a pair of walks. Three players would see the circle between Alexa Hopkins, Brinly Maples (0-2) and Mackenzie Freeman.

How it Happened
After a scoreless top of the first, Tulsa did some damage in the bottom of the frame. Fueled by a leadoff error in the outfield, Tulsa saw their leadoff runner land on third and score on a subsequent wild pitch. A double and single later, the Golden Hurricane had runners in the corners. A groundout would score the runner from third before a single into left would score the runner from first and make it a 3-0 game.

ISU only had a baserunner an inning through the first three frames until breaking through in the fourth. After a leadoff out, a Reagan Bartholomew single sparked the Cyclone bats. With Bartholomew on, Shepherd drove a ball deep over the center field fence to put the Cyclones on the board and cut the deficit to one. Ford followed up with a single of her own, forcing a pitching change. Maples would then face Malott, who took a 2-1 pitch over the left field fence to make it 4-3 and give the Cyclones the lead.

ISU would add a fifth run in the fifth, as Tatum Johnson would drive in Clemons on a single to give the Cyclones a two-run cushion.

Tulsa answered with an RBI base hit of its own in the bottom of the frame to trim its deficit to one.

Iowa State put things away in the sixth, plating four in its second four-run frame of the game. ISU opened the inning with three-straight singles to load the bases with no outs for Hayliegh Oliver. Oliver then picked up her first hit of the season, a double into the right-center gap, to plate two and make it a 7-4 game. The hit gave Oliver her first multi-RBI game of her career. With two still on, Clemons would drive in a third run before eventually scoring herself on a passed ball later in the frame.

Tulsa scored one final run in the seventh, but would ultimately fall, 9-5.

Friday G2 Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: Kadence Shepherd (2), Sydney Malott (2)
Tulsa: N/A

WP – Ava Mullen (1-1): 3.0 IP, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
SV – Lauren Schurman (1): 3.0 IP, 3 hits, 1 run (unearned) 3 walks, 1 strikeout
LP – Brinly Maples (0-2): 1.2 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts

On Deck
ISU is set to be back in action tomorrow, Feb. 14, when it faces UT Arlington as part of a doubleheader. Game one is set to start at 3 pm and will be streamed live on ESPN+.