PRIMER: Iowa State vs. UNI

Who: Iowa State (20-13, 3-6 Big 12) vs. UNI (17-13, 5-3 MVC)

Where: Cyclone Softball Complex (2,000) – Ames, Iowa

When: March 31 – 4 p.m.

Leading Off
Iowa State looks to keep its midweek record unblemished, as it welcomes UNI to the Cyclone Softball Complex for the teams' second meeting of the season. The Cyclones bested the Panthers, 5-3, in the previous meeting in Cedar Falls as part of the Doc Halverson Classic.

ISU will look to get back on track on Tuesday, as it enters the contest having been swept over the weekend by No. 2 Texas Tech. The Cyclones have not lost more than three games in a row at any point this season.

UNI is coming off a 2-1 series win over Illinois State over the weekend. After dropping game one in extras, the Panthers rallied to win the next two and secure their second MVC series of the year.

Scouting the Cyclones
Iowa State boasts a balanced lineup, as seven Cyclones are batting over .300 through seven weeks of play. Reagan Bartholomew leads the team with a batting average of .444 – good enough for sixth in the conference. Bartholomew has 44 hits, two more than teammate Jessie Clemons, and eight homers to lead the team.

Bartholomew (33) and Clemons (30) are both neck and neck in runs scored, while Clemons leads the team in doubles with 15. Tatum Johnson, Kadence Shepherd and Sydney Malott are tied for the second-most homers on the team with seven, while Johnson leads the team in RBI with 32. Shepherd (28) and Malott (26) trail Johnson in total RBI.

In the circle, five Cyclones have seen action. Lauren Schurman leads the way with a team-low ERA of 3.59. Schurman has hurled 82 innings, a team-high, and owns 47 punchouts, also a team-high. Freshmen Liv Palumbo (5-2) and Hailey Holtz (0-0), senior Jaiden Ralston (1-4), and Michigan State transfer Ava Mullen (3-3) round out the pitchers for ISU.

The Cyclones own a .322 batting average and have produced 220 runs on 286 hits. The team has 114 extra-base hits with 207 RBI and has drawn 131 walks. ISU holds a collective 4.65 ERA and fields the ball at a .970 clip.

Opponent Outlook
UNI's offense is led by Skylar Benesh and Kate Lappe, each of which bat over .440. Benesh leads the team with 46 hits and 40 runs, while Lappe owns a team-high 14 home runs and 35 RBI.

Anna Wischnowski has seen the majority of pitching duties for the Panthers, as she has hurled 69 innings so far. Wischnowski is holding opposing teams to just a .275 batting average and has 47 punchouts. Ashlyn Enke (3-1) and Morgan Vertz (2-1) round out the primary staff.

The Panthers own a .329 batting average and have produced 239 runs on 276 hits. The team has 114 extra-base hits with 220 RBI and has drawn 159 walks. UNI holds a collective 4.61 ERA and fields the ball at a .953 clip.

Series History
The Cyclones and Panthers will meet for the second and final time this season, with ISU taking the previous meeting 5-3. ISU leads the all-time series against UNI, owning a 49-41-1 record. ISU has won five in a row against the Panthers and four of the last five meetings in Ames.

On Deck
The Cyclones will follow their home midweek contest with a weekend series against a Top 25 Arizona squad for their fourth Big 12 series of the season. ISU and Arizona will play Thurs.-Sat. to account for the Easter holiday. Action begins Thursday at 4 pm and all games will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Reagan Bartholomew

Jessie Clemons

Hailey Holtz

Tatum Johnson

Sydney Malott

Ava Mullen

Liv Palumbo

Jaiden Ralston

Lauren Schurman

Kadence Shepherd

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics