ISU Splits Day Two at Doc Halverson Classic

Saturday, February 7

Cedar Falls, Iowa

9 a.m.

Iowa State

1-1

Kansas City

1-2

Iowa St.

Kansas City

Photo by: Iowa State Athletics

ISU Splits Day Two at Doc Halverson Classic

02.07.2026 | Softball

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

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Iowa State (1-2) split its pair of games on the second day of the Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic Saturday morning. The Cyclones opened the day with a 16-2 thrashing of Kansas City (1-2) by a score of 16-2 in five innings. Then ISU got a rematch with Friday's opponent, Omaha (3-0), but fell again to the Mavericks, 5-4.

The Cyclones piled it on late in the first game, scoring a combined 13 runs between the fourth and fifth frames to earn the run-rule win. Jessie Clemons and Reagan Bartholomew each had three hits to lead all players as the Cyclones totaled 14 RBI on 13 hits. Liv Palumbo pitched a complete game in her first collegiate outing, picking up three punchouts.

Game two featured multiple self-inflicted wounds by the Cyclones, as ISU outhit Omaha but committed three errors, allowed four unearned runs and left nine runners stranded. Kasey Kane collected her first hit of the season, a two-RBI double, as both she and Sydney Malott had multi-hit outings in the loss.

Iowa State 16, Kansas City 2 (5 Inn.)
In what was a 2-2 game after the second inning, Iowa State pulled away late as it scored 13 combined runs between the fourth and fifth innings to earn its first win of the season in run-rule fashion over KC.

The top of the Cyclone batting order, Clemons, Johnson and Bartholomew, combined for eight of the team's 13 hits on the day. Both Clemons and Bartholomew finished with three knocks to lead all players. All three had a pair of RBI, while Kadence Shepherd led the team with three. Tiana Poole was the lone other Cyclone with multiple hits. One of Bartholomew's three hits, which tied a career high, was her second home run of the young season.

Liv Palumbo got the nod in the circle for the Cyclones, as she saw her first collegiate action. Palumbo would hurl a complete game, allowing two runs on six hits. She would finish with three punchouts.

Six Roos finished the game with a hit, and two finished with an RBI apiece. Brooke Seppi started the contest and recorded every out for KC, facing 33 batters. Both Alyssa Droge and Hannah Burks also time I the circle for Kansas City.

How it Happened
ISU struck first in the top of the first, as Clemons led off with an infield single. After stealing second, she was driven in by Tatum Johnson, who singled into left center.

Already up 1-0, the Cyclones added another run in the second inning. Tiana Poole had a leadoff infield single and was able to move to third on a McKenna Andrews sacrifice bunt. Clemons would sky one deep to left field, deep enough to allow Poole to score for third on the sac fly, and making it 2-0.

The Roos answered in the bottom of the second, plating a pair and tying things up with a pair of RBI knocks.

ISU regained the lead in the third, as Bartholomew launched her second homer in as many games to make it 3-2.

The dam broke in the fourth inning, as the Cyclones scored six runs on two hits. Five walks and a pair of wild pitched helped Iowa State extend its lead to 10-2 heading into the fifth.

The fifth inning was more of the same for the Cyclones, as ISU plated seven runs on six hits. Both Clemons, Bartholomew and Malott had RBI singles, while Tiana Poole had an RBI double. Andrews picked up an RBI of her own on a sacrifice fly, while Kadence Shepherd drove in the other two runs on a fielder's choice.

Saturday G1 Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: Reagan Bartholomew (2)
Kansas City: N/A

WP – Liv Palumbo (1-0): 5.0 IP, 6 hits, 2 runs, 4 walks, 3 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Brooke Seppi (0-1): 5.0 IP, 12 hits, 12 runs (10 earned), 3 walks, 3 strikeouts

Omaha 5, ISU 4
The Cyclones dropped their second game of the day to the Mavericks, losing to Omaha for the second time in as many days. UNO took advantage of every opportunity it was given, sneaking out with a one-run win.

ISU committed three errors, stranded nine runners and allowed four unearned runs in the loss. The Cyclones were able to get runners in scoring position in each of the last four innings, but couldn't score more than four runs.

Six Cyclones recorded hits, with both Malott and Kane collecting a pair. Kane not only had her first collegiate hit, but had her first collegiate RBI too, driving in a pair to lead the team.

In the circle, Ava Mullen got the start for ISU, allowing three runs (one earned) in 2.1 innings of work. Jaiden Ralston would finish the contest, finishing the remaining 4.2 innings and striking out a pair.

How it Happened
Omaha got the scoring started, placing two runners on in the first inning thanks to an error and a walk. After each advanced on a wild pitch, a Katherine Johnson single drove in one, but an excellent throw from Clemons in left gunned down the second runner and kept the ISU deficit to just one.

The Mavericks tacked on two more in the second frame. With two outs, an ISU error gave UNO new life, and the Mavs made the Cyclones pay as Emma Durr cranked a homer into right center to make it 3-0.

After a scoreless third, the Cyclones started to get some offensive momentum in the fourth. Back-to-back singles from Bartholomew and Karlee Ford led off the frame for ISU. After two outs, Kane came to the plate and collected her first career hit. She blasted one just over the outstretched arm of the Omaha centerfielder to plate both Ford and Bartholomew, making the UNO lead just one.

The Mavs responded in the top of the fifth, re-extending their lead. A two-out single got things started, and then an ISU error in the outfield allowed for a run to come across. Now with a runner on third, another single scored run number five and made it 5-2 in favor of Omaha.

The Cyclones clawed back into it in the sixth, scoring two runs of their own. A pair of one-out singles started things off for ISU. A Poole ground-rule double would score one and make it a two-run deficit. Later, with the bases loaded and one out, Clemons launched a ball deep into left field, allowing for a run to score and making it 5-4. Another walk loaded the bases for ISU, but they couldn't cash in on the opportunity and would head to the seventh down a run.

After holding UNO scoreless in the top of the frame, ISU got a runner in scoring position with one out, but a pop-up and strikeout would end the rally attempt as ISU fell, 5-4.

Saturday G2 Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: N/A
Omaha: Emma Durr (1)

WP – Grace Hornbuckle (1-0): 5.1 IP, 7 hits, 4 runs, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts
SV – Alexis Wiggins (1): 1.2 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
LP – Ava Mullen (0-1): 2.1 IP, 2 hits, 3 runs (1 earned), 1 walk, 2 strikeouts

On Deck
The Cyclones will close out their season-opening tournament tomorrow against both Butler and UNI. Game one against the Bulldogs is set to begin at 10 am and game two is scheduled for 3 pm. Both will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Cyclones Fall in Season Opener

Friday, February 06

PRIMER: Iowa State at Doc Halverson Classic

Thursday, February 05

Cyclones Speak at Big 12 Virtual Media Day

Thursday, January 29

Clemons Named to Big 12 Preseason Team

Wednesday, January 28

Next Event

Butler

Feb 8 (Sun)

10 a.m.

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Full Schedule

Team Stats

Pitching:

W: Palumbo, Liv (1-0)

L: B. Seppi (0-1)

Iowa St.

Batting:

2B: Johnson, Tatum 1 ; Ford, Karlee 1 ; Poole, Tiana 1

HR: Bartholomew, Reagan 1

RBI: Clemons, Jessie 2 ; Johnson, Tatum 2 ; Bartholomew, Reagan 2 ; Shepherd, Kadence 3 ; Malott, Sydney 1 ; Nosan, Isabelle 1 ; Kane, Kasey 1 ; Poole, Tiana 1 ; Andrews, McKenna 1

SH: Andrews, McKenna 1

SF: Clemons, Jessie 1 ; Andrews, McKenna 1

Base Running:

RUNS: Clemons, Jessie 3 ; Johnson, Tatum 1 ; Bartholomew, Reagan 2 ; Buss, Ireland 1 ; Ford, Karlee 2 ; Shepherd, Kadence 2 ; Malott, Sydney 1 ; Kane, Kasey 1 ; Poole, Tiana 1 ; Andrews, McKenna 2