ISU Wraps Weekend with 10-1 Win Over UCSB

Sunday, March 1

Santa Barbara, Calif.

12:30 p.m.

Iowa State

13-6

UCSB

9-14

Iowa State

UC Santa Barbara

ISU Wraps Weekend with 10-1 Win Over UCSB

03.01.2026 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (.pdf)

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Iowa State (13-6) finished its weekend on a high note, downing host school UC Santa Barbara (9-14) by a score of 10-1 in five innings in the tournament finale Sunday afternoon.

ISU has now won eight of its last ten outings and has finished with a winning record in each of its four early-season tournaments.

After dropping the previous two meetings to UCSB by a combined three runs, ISU's offense exploded for a nine-run, run-rule victory over the Gauchos. Six of ISU's ten hits went for extra bases, while the Cyclone staff was just as dominant. The combination of Lauren Schurman and Liv Palumbo allowed just one run on three hits.

Reagan Bartholomew had herself an afternoon, falling a triple shy of the cyclone. Bartholomew finished with three hits, two RBI and scored a pair of runs. Tiana Poole also had a day at the plate, toting a game-high four RBI and three runs scored. Poole, like Bartholomew, left the yard. Jessie Clemons, Kasey Kane, Kadence Shepherd, Sydney Malott and McKenna Andrews all finished with a hit apiece.

Reigning Big West Pitcher of the Year Malaya Johnson got the start for UCSB, but only lasted 2.2 innings as she allowed six runs on six hits. Dani Rauscher was one of three Gauchos to earn a hit as she scored the team's only run. Ainsley Waddell had the team's RBI.

How it Happened
Iowa State was able to load the bases with just one out in the first inning, only to see a double play from the Gauchos end the early threat.

ISU broke through in the second inning, plating a pair. Sydney Malott led the frame off with a double over the left fielder's head before advancing to third on a wild pitch. A bunt double from Poole would drive Malott in and cyclone another runner into scoring position. A McKenna Andrews single would put a pair on and move Poole to third. A sac fly from Jessie Clemons, her sixth of the season, would score Poole and make it 2-0.

The Cyclones exploded for four runs in the third, driving their lead to 6-0. With two on and two outs, Kadence Shepherd doubled down the left field line to score one and make it 3-0. With runners on second and third, Tiana Poole crushed her second home run of the season over the left field fence to put ISU up 6-0.

The Gauchos finally got on the board in the bottom of the third. With two outs and a runner on second, an Ainsley Waddell single through the right side allowed the runner to score from second and make it 6-1.

ISU scored its seventh run of the game in the fourth thanks to its second sac fly of the afternoon. With the bases loaded and no outs, Karlee Ford sent a fly deep into center to score the seventh run.

Iowa State finished things off in the fifth, first using a third sac fly from Tatum Johnson to make it 8-1. With a runner on third, Bartholomew cranked a two-run home run over the left field fence to push the lead to 10-1.

Palumbo continued to shut down the Gaucho bats in the bottom of the fifth, as ISU left the UCSB Tournament with a 3-2 record.

Sunday Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: Tiana Poole (2), Reagan Bartholomew (4)
UCSB: N/A

WP – Liv Palumbo (5-1): 3.0 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Malaya Johnson (4-5): 2.2 IP, 6 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), 3 walks, 1 strikeout

On Deck
Iowa State will be back in action next weekend when it heads to Waco to face Baylor in the team's Big 12 opening series. The Cyclones and Bears will play three times across Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with game one starting Friday night at 6:30.