Who: Iowa State (19-28, 5-16 Big 12) vs. UCF (28-21, 10-14 Big 12)
Where: Cyclone Sports Complex – Ames, Iowa
When: May 3-5 – 4, 1 & 12 pm
Leading Off
The Cyclones return to the Cyclone Sports Complex this weekend to welcome the UCF Knights to Ames. Both ISU and UCF are wrapping up regular season play this weekend, as the Big 12 Championship is set to get under way later next week in Oklahoma City where all 10 teams will compete for the title.
The Cyclones enter the weekend series having snapped a three-game skid against Drake on Wednesday, besting the Bulldogs 9-8 in Des Moines. ISU is looking to snap another skid this weekend, as Iowa State has dropped seven straight conference matchups over the last couple of weekends.
Similarly, UCF is looking to snap a conference losing streak of its own, as the Knights have fallen in six straight Big 12 games after being swept by both Oklahoma and Baylor over the last two weeks. The Knights own series wins over both BYU and Kansas – two teams who gave ISU issues earlier this season.
This weekend, Iowa State will celebrate its nine seniors and recognize them for their contributions to the program over the years. Sunday, May 5, ISU’s seniors will be honored in their final game at the Cyclone Sports Complex. This year’s seniors included Karlie Charles, Kali Gose, Abby Gunter, Sophie Maras, Camille Marin, Milaysia Ochoa, Alesia Ranches, Carli Spelhaug and Kelly Treves.
Quick Hits:
- Iowa State has recorded double-digit runs in a game five times so far this season. It had only two such games in 2023.
- Iowa State earned its third win over a ranked team when it played Oklahoma State. It’s the second straight year that ISU has earned at least three ranked wins.
- The Cyclones have been a bit feast or famine early in the season, as the team averages 7.7 runs scored a game in wins but just 2.4 runs in losses.
- Junior outfielder Angelina Allen has been phenomenal this season and is pushing for an all-time single-season performance. She’s 21st in the country in hits (68) which is tops in the Big 12. Her 19 doubles are first in the conference and rank her seventh nationally.
- Allen has 120 total bases on the season, the fourth most in the Big 12. Allen has the fifth-best batting average in the conference (.433) and ranks 17th nationally.
- Allen was awarded the Big 12 Player of the Week award on March 5, making her the first Cyclone to earn the award since Sami Williams in 2021.
- Milaysia Ochoa broke the program record for most HBP at Oklahoma in the Big 12 opening weekend, being struck by her 29th pitch.
- Ochoa is just behind Allen for the most doubles in the conference, as she currently sits at 16 – the 26th most in the country.
- Senior Saya Swain recorded her seventh career save in Vegas earlier this season. She needs two more to break the all-time program record.
- Swain has been sidelined since the third week of the season due to injury.
- Sophomore Ashley Minor has been hit by a pitch 12 times this season, the most in the Big 12. Minor is three HBP away from tying the single season school record.
Leading the Cyclones
The Cyclone offense both literally and statistically starts with a pair of lefties in Ochoa and Allen. Allen leads the Cyclones in most every offensive category outside of runs, triples and walks drawn. Ochoa, a fellow team captain, has complimented Allen nicely at the top of the order. From the leadoff spot, Milaysia is hitting .324 and has scored a team-best 41 runs.
Olivia Wardlow has really come on strong this season, as she’s been given the opportunity to start between second base and DP. This year, Wardlow is hitting .289 with only 13 strikeouts and has been a perfect 6-6 on steals. Alesia Ranches, Ashley Minor, Tiana Poole and Carli Spelhaug all have over 25 hits and help power the Cyclone offense. Overall, ISU’s offense slashes .271/.362/.453 and averages 4.5 runs per game.
All six players on the Cyclone pitching staff have seen the circle this season, including seniors Karlie Charles leading the way. Charles holds a 4.49 ERA and has pitched a team-high 78 innings. Fellow senior Saya Swainwho has the lowest ERA on the team with a 2.07, hasn’t pitched since mid-February due to injury.
Lauren Schurman, Jayden Ralston, Aziza Rodriguez and Tatum Johnson make up the remainder of the staff, with all being either a sophomore or freshman. Ralston has a team-best 54 strikeouts and opposing hitters bat just .292 against her. As a staff, ISU holds a 5.56 ERA with five complete games and opposing batters are hitting .317.
Opponent Outlook
UCF’s offensive attack is led by the combination of Chloe Evans and Jada Cody. Evans, a former Minnesota Golden Gopher, has a team-high seven homers and 36 runs batted in. Evans is the only Knight to start all 49 games for the team. Cody leads the team in hits, doubles and triples as well as batting average as she owns a .338.
Aubrey Evans (no relation to Chloe) and Stormy Kotzelnick each have 15 RBI and 12 walks, as they complement the top two hitters well. Overall, UCF’s offense slashes .308/.371/.450 and averages 5.2 runs per game.
The Knights have a deep pitching staff that consists of seven arms, with two main inning-eaters. Sarah Willis has tossed a team-high 106 innings on the season and has 92 punchouts to her name. Kaitlyn Felton has thrown her fair share of innings at 78.2 and owns 56 strikeouts.
Katelyn Cochran has a team-low ERA of 1.12 in her 25 innings of action. Grace Jewell, Angelina DeVoe, Ava Justman and Sona Halajian also see time in the circle for UCF. As a staff, UCF holds a 3.06 ERA with 15 complete games and six shutouts as opposing batters are hitting .238 against them.
Series History
The Cyclones and Knights have met five times prior to this weekend. This weekend’s meeting will also serve as the first matchup as Big 12 foes and the first meeting between the two teams in Iowa. All five previous meetings have either taken place in Orlando or at an early season tournament. UCF leads the series, 4-1.
On Deck
Following its regular season finale series against the Knights, Iowa State will be back in action next week, taking part in the Big 12 Softball Championships. ISU is locked into the first round and will play at either 5 or 7:30 pm on Wednesday, Nay 8. Wednesday’s game will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
