OREM, Utah – In its final action of a four-game road trip in the Beehive State, Iowa State (17-25) downed Utah Valley (17-25) for the second time this season to get back on track.

Iowa State grabbed the lead early and held on to win its fourth road contest of the season. Karlie Charles hurled a complete game while Angelina Allen had three hits as they willed ISU to victory.

The Cyclones were led at the plate by Allen whose three hits were a game high. She was tied for the game-high in RBI with two and also was able to steal home during the game. Paige Nakashima recorded the lone other RBI for the Cyclones, as the sophomore from Hawaii made her first start of the season. Alesia Ranches, Ashley Minor, Tiana Poole and Olivia Wardlow also had hits on the day.

Charles (3-6) was the only Cyclone to see the circle, as the senior picked up her third complete game of the season. She allowed just two runs on six hits on the day, facing 27 batters and striking out a pair.

Utah Valley scattered six hits across six different athletes on the afternoon. Three of the Wolverine hits were bunt singles while Saige Nielsen had a home run. Nielsen’s home run, a two-run blast, accounted for both Wolverine RBI.

Avery Sapp (4-11) started for UVU and hurled 4.1 innings of action against the Cyclones. Sapp allowed eight hits and two runs but was able to earn five strikeouts. Halle Morris would relieve Sapp and allow just one hit in 1.1 innings of work before Payge Armendariz entered and gave up two runs on two hits in her lone inning of work.

How it Happened

It was a three up, three down inning for both sides in the first as Iowa State used a double play, spearheaded by Ranches – to escape the frame.

The Cyclones got on the board first in the second inning, thanks to a Paige Nakashima single. Tiana Poole got on with a single and was eventually able to take second on a wild pitch. With a 1-2 count, Nakashima singled into right field to plate Tiana and give ISU a 1-0 lead. Back-to-back singles from Kali Gose and Olivia Wardlow would then load the bases but ISU was unable to convert, leaving the bases stranded.

Iowa State added another tally in the third inning to extend its lead to two. Allen led the frame off with a double into left center field which was followed by a Ranches single to put runners on the corners. Ranches then went to steal second and when UVU threw down, Allen stole home as both runners – Allen and Ranches – stole successfully.

Each team would leave one stranded in both the third, fourth and fifth inning, as the game went to the sixth inning of action.

A pair of walks and a HBP would load the bases with two outs for the Cyclones in the sixth inning. Allen then stepped back into the box and ripped a single through the right side to plate a pair and extend the ISU lead to 4-0. One of the base runners, Angelita Fuentes, entered to pinch run and saw her first action of the season as she returned from injury.

Utah Valley attempted to rally in the bottom of the seventh, connecting on a two-out single before Saige Nilsen blasted a homer over the center field wall – her first of the season – to halve the ISU lead, 4-2. ISU was able to get the next batter to ground out though, snuffing the rally and earning its 17th win of the season.

On Deck

Following a four-game stint in Utah, Iowa State will return to the Cyclone Sports Complex on Tuesday, April 23, to face the St. Thomas Tommies for some midweek action. Tuesday’s game is set to begin at 4 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.