DES MOINES, Iowa – Iowa State (31-21, 8-13 Big 12) moved to 8-1 in midweek contests and 5-1 against in-state foes Wednesday evening, downing Drake (13-35, 7-18 MVC) by a score of 7-3 at Buel Field.
The Cyclones wasted little time gaining the advantage in their third game of the week, plating three early runs to set the tone. ISU sprinkled home four more runs across the final four innings, going on to win 7-3.
Reagan Bartholomew had a big outing, collecting three hits as she fell a triple shy of a cycle. Bartholomew had both a two-run homer and a two-run double, accounting for four of the team’s seven RBI on the day. Jessie Clemons was the only other Cyclone with multiple hits, as the Cyclones totaled 12 knocks on the day.
Hailey Holtz started the game for ISU, allowing one earned run in her 2.1 innings of action. Jaiden Ralston (5-6) picked up her second win of the week, entering in relief. Ralston allowed just one run in her 4.2 innings of action, striking out three.
Natalee Watts was tied with Bartholomew for a game-high in hits with three, as she had Drake’s only RBI of the day. Ava Husak joined Watts as the only Drake players with multiple hits. Peyton Driscoll (2-15) picked up the loss in the contest.
How it Happened
ISU got off to a hot start, as Clemons opened the game with her 22nd double of the season, sending one down the right line. Next up was Bartholomew who crushed the third pitch she saw over the left field fence to put the Cyclones up, 2-0. Later, with one out, Sydney Malott smashed a solo shot over the center field wall to push the Iowa State cushion to three.
Drake got on the board next, scoring two in the bottom of the third frame. The Bulldogs would load the bases and force an ISU pitching change. A subsequent wild pitch and an ISU error allowed two to come across and trim the Cyclone lead to one.
The Cyclones snatched those two runs back in the fourth, courtesy of Bartholomew. With Ralston and Tiana Poole on second and third, respectively, Bartholomew pounded a deep double off the left field wall to plate them both and push the ISU advantage back to three, 5-2.
The Cyclones would add a run in the fifth on a Victoria Prado RBI double and in the seventh on a Jaiden Ralston RBI single – the first hit and RBI of her career – to push the lead to 7-2.
Drake attempted a rally in the bottom of the seventh with a solo blast, but that was it for the Bulldogs as they fell in the midweek matchup.
Wednesday Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: Reagan Bartholomew (15), Sydney Malott (10)
Drake: Natalee Watts (7)
WP – Jaiden Ralston (5-6): 4.2 IP, 3 hits, 1 run, 0 walks, 3 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Peyton Driscoll (2-15): 0.1 IP, 4 hits, 3 runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts
On Deck
Iowa State will face one final regular-season opponent in UCF this weekend, as it hosts the Knights for the regular-season finale. The Cyclones and Knights will square off in a three-game series with action starting Friday, May 1, at 4 p.m. All three contests will be streamed live on ESPN+, and as a reminder, admission to the Cyclone Sports Complex is FREE.
