Bartholomew’s Heroics Lift Cyclones Over Hawkeyes

Wednesday, April 8

Iowa City, Iowa

5 p.m.

Iowa State

23-15

Iowa

21-17

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Iowa State	0	0	4	1	2	0	2	9	11	0
Iowa	0	0	3	2	1	1	0	7	8	0

Photo by: Iowa State Athletics

Bartholomew’s Heroics Lift Cyclones Over Hawkeyes

04.08.2026 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (.pdf)

IOWA CITY, Iowa – For the second-straight game, Reagan Bartholomew played the hero for the Cyclones (23-15, 4-8 Big 12), as the Waukee native blasted a go-ahead two-run shot in the top of the seventh to lift ISU over Iowa (21-17, 5-10 Big Ten) in game one of the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series, 9-7.

After a scoreless pair of innings to start the game, both the Cyclone and Hawkeye offenses lit up the scoreboard, combining to mash five homers on the night. None of those homers was bigger than Bartholomew, who took a no-out ball over the center field fence to lift ISU to the in-state win. For Bartholomew, it was her second game-winning home run of the week, as she also had the walk-off blast against No. 14 Arizona on Monday.

Bartholomew was one of three Cyclones with three hits on the day, as she was joined by Tatum Johnson and Karlee Ford. Both Johnson and Bartholomew finished with two RBI, matching teammate Kadence Shepherd to lead the team. McKenna Andrews had the team's lone other hit.

Jaiden Ralston got the nod to start for the Cyclones, handling two of ISU's three shutout innings against the Hawkeyes. Lauren Schurman (13-5) picked up the win in relief, striking out a pair in the win.

Three Hawkeyes were tied for the team-lead in hits with two apiece, while Tory Bennett had a game-high three RBI. Three Hawks saw the circle, with Avery Sapp getting the start, allowing four runs in 2.1 innings of work. Carly Brewer handled middle relief, also allowing four runs in her stint. Serayah Neiss (9-5) entered in the seventh, giving up the game-winning homer.

How it Happened
The Cyclones stranded three runners in the first two frames, as the game would remain scoreless through two innings.

Iowa State broke the ice in a big way in the third, as both Johnson and Shepherd tanked homers. A leadoff walk drawn by Andrews was eventually driven in by Johnson, who deposited a ball over the right field fence, making it 2-0. Bartholomew followed the homer with a double, while Shepherd followed the double with a deep drive of her own. Shepherd's tenth homer of the year plated Bartholomew and put ISU up 4-0.

The Hawkeyes didn't blink, however, responding emphatically in the bottom of the inning. A walk and a single paved the way for a big Bennett at-bat that saw the Iowa right fielder homer into left field and cut the Cyclone lead to just one.

ISU got a run back in the fourth, utilizing some creative base-running. The Cyclones essentially sacrificed a runner on first in a pickle to score a run from third and make it 5-3.

Again, though, Iowa had an answer, smashing a two-run shot in the bottom of the inning to make it 5-5.

The Cyclones added a pair in the fifth thanks to a Sydney Malott sacrifice fly and a Karlee Ford RBI double. The Hawkeyes struck right back in the flipside of the frame, plating one on an RBI single.

Down one, Iowa held ISU scoreless in the sixth before scoring a game-tying run off an infield single.

Heading to the seventh knotted at seven, ISU sent its 2-3-4 hitters to the plate. Johnson led off with a single, forcing an Iowa pitching change. On the second pitch she saw, Bartholomew took Neiss for a ride scoring what ended up being the game-winning runs.

The Cyclones held serve in the bottom of the seventh, forcing a three-up, three-down frame to win the highest scoring Cy-Hawk game since 2012.

Wednesday Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: Tatum Johnson (9), Kadence Shepherd (10), Reagan Bartholomew (11)
Iowa: Tory Bennett (8), Mariah Myers (5)

WP – Lauren Schurman (13-5): 4.1 IP, 5 hits, 4 runs, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Serayah Neiss (9-5): 1.0 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 0 walks, 1 strikeout

On Deck
The Cyclones will return to action this weekend, as they are set to host another ranked team, No. 19 Oklahoma State, for a three-game series. The Cyclones and Cowgirls will face off first on Friday at 4 p.m., and all three contests will be streamed live on ESPN+.