Cyclones Cruise Past UNI; Win in Five, 10-2

Tuesday, March 31

Ames, Iowa

4 p.m.

Iowa State

21-13

UNI

17-14

Northern Iowa

Iowa State

Photo by: Jeff Spaur

Cyclones Cruise Past UNI; Win in Five, 10-2

03.31.2026 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (.pdf)

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State (21-13, 3-6 Big 12) snapped a three-game skid on Tuesday afternoon, besting in-state foe UNI (17-14, 5-3 MVC) in five innings by a score of 10-2.

After being limited to just nine runs over the weekend at No. 2 Texas Tech, the Cyclone bats came alive to drive in 10 runs and take down the Panthers for the second time this season. ISU's pitching staff limited UNI to just four hits in the win.

Tatum Johnson and Sydney Malott each tallied a multi-hit afternoon, ending the contest with a pair of knocks. One of Johnson's hits was a double – her 11th on the season. Malott joined Kadence Shepherd as the team lead in RBI, as each finished with two. Shepherd's RBI came on her eighth homer of the year, and fourth in the last four games. She would also finish with a team-best two walks.

Liv Palumbo picked up her sixth win of the season for ISU, dealing 4.0 innings of action and allowing just two runs. Lauren Schurman would toss the final frame, securing the last three outs without allowing a hit and striking out a pair.

Leadoff batter Skylar Benesh led the Panthers with two hits, but she didn't get much help as just two other UNI players finished with a hit. Kate Lappe and Sykora Smith recorded the team's two RBI. Anna Wischnowski picked up the loss, as she allowed six runs in two innings of action.

How it Happened
The Panthers struck first in the top of the opening inning, plating a pair of runs. With a runner on third, Lappe grounded out to score the run and put UNI up, 1-0. With two on and two outs, Smith singled into center to score the second run and put the Panthers up, 2-0.

ISU got a run back in the bottom of the frame, as Sydney Malott drove in a run. With runners on the corners, Malott slapped a single through the left side to put the Cyclones on the board and cut the UNI lead in half, 2-1.

After holding UNI scoreless in the top of the second, the Cyclone bats exploded in the bottom of the inning. With runners on the corners and two outs, Jessie Clemons drove in a run to tie things up. A single from Johnson would score two more and make it 4-2 in favor of the Cyclones. Then, with two outs and one on, Shepherd cranked a homer to make it 6-2 and give the Cyclones a four-run cushion.

A scoreless third gave way to the fourth, where the Cyclones tacked on four more runs. Clemons and Johnson led off the frame with a single and a double, respectively, before Reagan Bartholomew brought them both in. While Clemons scored cleanly, Johnson was ruled safe due to obstruction. With Bartholomew on second and Shepherd on first, Malott smacked another RBI single, this time to right field, to score one and put ISU on top 9-2. The final Cyclone run came courtesy of Karlee Ford, who laid down a perfect safety squeeze to give ISU the eight-run cushion and force an eventual run-rule victory.

Tuesday Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: Kadence Shepherd (8)
UNI: N/A

WP – Liv Palumbo (6-2): 4.0 IP, 4 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Anna Wischnowski (7-6): 2.0 IP, 5 hits, 6 runs (2 earned), 2 walks, 1 strikeout

On Deck
The Cyclones will return to action on Easter Sunday for a doubleheader against No. 14 Arizona. The Cyclones and Wildcats will start action at 1 pm with game two to follow. Both will be streamed live on ESPN+.