AUSTIN, Texas – Iowa State (18-28, 5-16 Big 12) wrapped its weekend series against the top-ranked Texas Longhorns (42-6, 20-4 Big 12) on Saturday afternoon, dropping a pair of five-inning contests in the Lone Star State.
Milaysia Ochoa had three hits on the day and recorded the team’s only RBI across both contests. Alesia Ranches had a pair of hits as she was the lone other Cyclone to collect multiple knocks on the day.
ISU 0, UT 8 (5 Inn.)
Texas took little time earning a first-inning lead and never looked back, outhitting the Cyclones by eight and shutting out ISU on its way to a five inning, run-rule win.
Ochoa and Ranches had the only hits of the game for the Cyclones while both Tiana Poole and Olivia Wardlow drew walks.
Three ISU pitchers saw the circle between Schurman, Aziza Rodriguez and Jaiden Ralston.
Texas was led by Ashton Maloney who totaled three hits while both Reese Atwood and Kayden Henry each had two. Gutierrez pitched an entire game, recording a two-hit shutout on the afternoon.
How it Happened
Texas plated a run in both the first and second inning, taking an early 2-0 lead. The Longhorns loaded the bases in the third inning for the second time in the game but were unable to bring any across as the teams went to the fourth.
The Cyclone bats were kept quiet before the Horns added two more in the fourth. UT catcher Reese Atwood launched a two-run homer to plate her 67 and 68th RBI of the season and give the Longhorns a 4-0 advantage.
ISU was unable to really get anything going at the plate, as Texas would go on to score four runs in the bottom of the fifth to push its lead to eight, ending the game in five innings.
Saturday Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: N/A
Texas: Reese Atwood (16)
WP – Citlaly Gutierrez (9-0): 5.0 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Lauren Schurman (3-6): 1.0 IP, 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 0 strikeouts
ISU 1, UT 9 (5 Inn.)
Much like the first game, Texas took an early first inning lead and never looked back, earning an eight-run, run-rule victory to complete a weekend sweep.
Ochoa had a pair of hits to lead all Cyclones and she had the only RBI on the day for ISU. Tatum Johnson, McKenna Andrews, Paige Zender, Tiana Poole and Alesia Ranches all had hits in the second game, as the ISU bats were able to get more runners on base in the second go-around.
Karlie Charles and Aziza Rodriguez each pitched today for ISU, with Rodriguez making her first appearance today since early April as she dealt with illness.
Both UT’s Mia Scott and Katie Stewart had three hits in the game to lead all players. Stewart had a game-high three RBI while Scott had two as did Atwood. Mac Morgan tossed a complete game for the Horns, allowing just one run and striking out two.
How it Happened
Top-ranked Texas again didn’t wait long to start the scoring in the second game of the day, as the Longhorns plated three early runs in the first. Five hits in the first, including a four-consecutive hit streak, resulted in an early 3-0 lead for UT.
Texas would then pile on four more in the second. A two-RBI double as well as a sac fly and a solo shot accounted for the second inning scoring.
Both sides were scoreless in the third but UT tacked on two more in the fourth. A leadoff walk for Reese Atwood was driven home by a Katie Stewart homer to make it 9-0 in favor of the Longhorns.
Iowa State earned its first run of the day in the fifth, avoiding a second straight shutout. Paige Zender earned her first hit of her career to get the inning started. A McKenna Andrews single then put runners on the corners with just one out. Ochoa stepped into the box and delivered a deep infield single to score a run and put the Cyclones on the board. Texas buckled down from there though, forcing two more quick out as it went on to win a second run-rule game on Saturday.
Saturday Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: N/A
Texas: Reese Atwood (17), Katie Stewart (9)
WP – Mac Morgan (11-1): 5.0 IP, 7 hits, 1 run, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Karlie Charles (3-7): 1.1 IP, 7 hits, 7 runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts
On Deck
Following its weekend in Austin, Iowa State will be back in action this Wednesday, May 1, as it kicks off the final month of the season with the Drake Bulldogs. Iowa State and Drake will match up at 6 p.m.
