AMES, Iowa – It was a joyous Senior Day at the Cyclone Softball Complex Sunday afternoon, as Iowa State (30-22, 15-9 Big 12) sent out seniors Angelita Fuentes and Angelina Allen by wrapping up the regular season with a win, defeating Baylor (26-26, 11-13 Big 12) by a score of 4-3.

With the win, the Cyclones secured the number three seed in next week’s Big 12 Championship and will play Thursday. ISU also secured its highest-ever placement in Big 12 standings, surpassing the previous high of four (2022). The win also secured the third season with at least 30 wins under Pinkerton. Prior to his arrival in Ames in 2018, ISU had last had a 30 win season in 1989.

It was a call-and-response kind of game, as for every punch, a counterpunch was thrown. After going up 1-0 in the first, Baylor responded with two runs in the second to take the lead. After ISU knotted things up at two in the fourth, Baylor responded with a third run to retake the lead in the fifth. The Cyclones threw the final punch though, plating a pair in the bottom of the fifth to hold on for their sixth series win of the season.

It was only fitting that a senior led the way for the Cyclones, as Angelina Allen had herself a game in her final outing at the CSC. The Moreno Valley, California native went two-of-three at the plate with what proved to be the game-winning RBI single and a solo blast. Jessie Clemons also had a great performance, going two-of-three too and plating one. Karlee Ford and McKenna Andrews notched the team’s lone two other knocks.

Lauren Schurman (4) got the start for ISU but would end up getting the save as she exited after one frame to re-enter for the final two and close out a one-run lead for the Cyclones. Following Schurman was Abby Huhn who pitched admirably in two frames before Jaiden Ralston (11-9) would relieve her. Ralston allowed one run on three hits with a strikeout as she got the decision.

For Baylor, Amber Toven led the team with two hits while six others collected a knock. Averie Waddell had a team-best two RBI, while Shaylon Govan and Leah Cran each collected a base on balls. Sadie Ross got the start for the Bears, hurling 4.1 frames and allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits before being replaced by Lillie Walker (11-10) who’d pitched complete outings in the last two games.

For the first time this series, Iowa State struck first as it plated a run in the bottom of the first. Clemons started things off with a one-out single up the middle on a full count. She’d then be moved to second on a Tatum Johnson walk. An Allen line out to center field would allow both Clemons and Johnson to advance to put two in scoring position with two outs. An opportunistic Clemons took off a pitch into Sydney Malott’s bat, scoring on a passed ball to put ISU in front, 1-0.

Baylor wasted little time responding, as it scored twice in the second to take the lead. With Huhn taking over for Schurman in the second, BU put a pair on via singles and would eventually see both move into scoring position. With two outs, Averie Waddell singled down the left line to score both and put the Bears in front.

A scoreless third set the stage for the fourth frame where ISU would tie things up at two. Allen stepped into the box to leadoff the frame and battled her way to a full count. On the sixth and final pitch, Allen skyed a Senior Day shot over the right center wall to tie things up. The homer was her first since early March.

Just when it seemed the Cyclones had the momentum, Baylor snatched it back in the top of the fifth, retaking the lead. With a runner on third and two outs, Shaylon Govan hit a ball just out of the reach of Tiana Poole in right to score BU’s third and final run of the day to put it up 3-2.

ISU again had response in store, plating two in the bottom of the frame to regain control. Andrews smacked a one-out double into left center to put ISU in business. A Clemons two out single would score Andrews from first before Clemons herself advanced to third on an outfield overthrow error. After Johnson was hit by a pitch, ISU had two runners on and Allen back up to the plate. The senior delivered again, singling through the left side to score Clemons and give ISU the lead.

The Cyclones would face a couple Baylor threats, including two on with no outs in the sixth, but come out unscathed and earn its series-clinching win.

Iowa State: Angelina Allen (5)

Baylor: N/A

WP – Jaiden Ralston (11-9): 2.0 IP, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 1 strikeout

SV – Lauren Schurman (4): 3.0 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts

LP – Lillie Walker (11-10): 6.2 IP, 7 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts

With a pair of wins this weekend, Iowa State secured a top five seed in the Big 12 Championship next week and will play on Thursday as the third seed. ISU will play the winner of Wednesday’s No. 6 seed vs. No. 11 seed game which will feature Houston and BYU. Thursday’s game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.