AUSTIN, Texas – In Friday’s penultimate Big 12 series-opener, Iowa State (18-26, 5-14 Big 12) fell to No. 1-ranked Texas (40-6, 18-4 Big 12) by a score of 5-2 at Red & Charline McCombs Field.
Top-ranked Texas took a 5-0 lead into the fifth inning and Iowa State threatened to come back in the sixth, scoring two and loading the bases, but Texas escaped the jam and was able to earn the series-opening win.
Four Cyclones collected hits on the evening, as Milaysia Ochoa, Angelina Allen, Carli Spelhaug and Camille Marin had hits. Both Allen and Spelhaug had RBI doubles while Tatum Johnson had two walks on the night.
Jaiden Ralston (4-7) got the start in the circle for the Cyclones. She went 4.1 innings and allowed just one run on three hits, walking a lone Longhorn. Lauren Schurman pitched in middle relief, allowing four runs on five hits.
Texas’s Katie Stewart had a three-hit night, driving in three runs to lead both teams. Five more Longhorns collected solo hits on the night, as they outhit the Cyclones 8-4 on the evening.
Teagan Kavan (14-2) went six innings for the Longhorns, collecting eight strikeouts and limiting ISU to just two runs. Mac Morgan (3) picked up the save for Texas and helped UT clinch the win.
How it Happened
Both teams spent the first inning feeling out the other pitcher, as each side went three up, three down for a quick first frame.
The Cyclones had the first baserunner of the contest in the top of the second, as Ashley Minor was hit by her 12th pitch this season. Minor was able to advance to second on a sac bunt but would be stranded following a pair of strikeouts.
Texas earned the game’s first hit in the bottom of the second on a double to left center. UT would move the runner to second and earn a walk to place runners on the corners, but a failed bunt resulted in the third out as ISU escaped unscathed.
After ISU mustered its first hit of the game in the top of the frame, Texas tacked on the first run in the bottom of the inning as they hit a solo shot to get on the board.
The Longhorns then rattled off back-to-back two-run frames, taking a 5-0 lead into the sixth inning.
Iowa State’s bats started to connect in the sixth, as Ochoa led off the inning with a double down the right line. Allen followed Ochoa up with a double of her own into left center to plate Ochoa. A Minor walk would put two on with two outs. Then, in a 2-2 count, Spelhaug doubled into left to score Allen and make it a three-run game. ISU would then load the bases but a Cyclone strikeout ended the threat.
Top-ranked Texas would hold on in the seventh, as the Cyclones stranded one in their final attempt at the plate.
Friday Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: N/A
Texas: Mia Scott (5), Katie Stewart (8)
WP – Teagan Kavan (14-2): 6.0 IP, 4 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts
SV – Mac Morgan (3): 1.0 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts
LP – Jaiden Ralston (4-7): 4.1 IP, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts
On Deck
The Cyclones and Longhorns will meet Saturday in the second day of action of the weekend series. Saturday’s game is set to start at 1 p.m.
