AMES, Iowa – Fifth-ranked Oklahoma State (35-8, 13-5 Big 12) flexed its muscles on Sunday, staving off a sweep and handling Iowa State (16-22, 5-10) as it won 10-2 in six innings.

The Cowgirl offense, which had been held in check by Iowa State’s stellar pitching through two games, finally broke through on Sunday as OSU cranked four home runs to power its way to an eight-run victory.

Iowa State, who was aiming for its first-ever ranked series sweep, ran out of arms essentially, as the trio of Lauren Schurman, Karlie Charles and Jaiden Ralston had already made appearances on the weekend. OSU’s nationally-ranked offense took advantage of the fact that it had already faced those three and teed off.

The Cyclones were limited on offense today, as they were held to just two hits on the afternoon. Carli Spelhaug smacked a double in the second, while Tatum Johnson launched her second homer of the season in the sixth. ISU’s Milaysia Ochoa, Angelina Allen and Alesia Ranches all drew walks on the day as OSU’s Lexi Kilfoyl walked three batters for the second time this weekend – she’d never walked more than two in a game this season prior to the weekend. Allen, who’d had a hit in her last 11 games, saw her streak snapped.

Schurman (3-4) got the start in the circle for ISU, giving up three runs on three hits. Charles and Ralston would enter in relief and combine to give up seven runs on eight hits.

Three Cowgirls – Claire Timm, Caroline Wang and Rosie Davis – had multi-hit games, with all three and Karli Godwin launching homers. Kilfoyl (16-3) had a dominant outing, pitching all six innings and allowing just two runs on two hits while striking out four.

How it Happened

OSU was the first team on the board, as the Cowgirls plated three in the second inning. A single and a pair of walks would load the bases for the Cowgirls, as Megan Bloodworth connected on her third triple of the season, clearing the bases and giving Oklahoma State a 3-0 lead.

Iowa State cut into the deficit in the bottom of the frame. Spelhaug led off the frame with a double to left center and Ashley Minor followed and was subsequently hit by a pitch to put two on. Through a pair of fielder’s choices, Spelhaug was able to come around and score to make it 3-1.

After a scoreless third and fourth inning, Oklahoma State started to ignite the bats in the fifth. A pair of homers, a solo and two-run blast, from Timm and Godwin put the Cowgirls up 6-1.

In the top of the sixth, OSU plated four more. Wang smashed her 16^th home run of the year, a three-run blast, while Davis followed her by hitting her own homer as the Cowgirls took a 10-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth.

Iowa State attempted to trim the lead to under eight to extend the game, but a Johnson solo shot wasn’t enough as the Cyclones were unable to complete the sweep against OSU, falling 10-2 in six innings.

On Deck

Iowa State is set to finish its nine-game homestand this Tuesday, April 16, as it is set to welcome the Iowa Hawkeyes to the Cyclone Sports Complex for the annual Cy-Hawk showdown. Iowa and Iowa State are set to face off at 4 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

SPOKANE. Wash. – Four University of Iowa women’s wrestlers had top-two finishes in Spokane, Washington, at the 2024 Women’s National Championship over the weekend. Brianna Gonzalez (53kg) and Reese Larramendy (65kg) both clinched a U20 national title.

The two finalists at each weight class in the U20 division and the champions of the U23 division will secure their spots at the World Championships. The U20 World Championship will be held in Pontevedra, Spain, this September, and the U23 World Championships will take place in Rio Negro, Colombia, this June.

At 50 kilograms, Sterling Dias took to the finals in the U23 division after four dominate wins. In the best of three matchup, Dias fell in two to Heather Crull of Indiana, the first match via a 10-3 decision and second a 10-0 technical fall.

Nyla Valencia made her way to the finals at 50kg for the U20 division, where she fell in the first two rounds to Anaya Falcon of California. Valencia kept the first match to a decision, 14-6, then fell via tech. fall in the second match, 10-0.

Iowa had it’s first champion at 53kg, with Gonzalez making her way through the tournament courtesy tech. falls or pins, including a 35-second pin over Akeelah Moore of Texas. Gonzalez took her best of three final to the third match, after defeating Clare Booe of Florida in the second match via 10-0 tech. fall. In the last match, the U20 finalist secured a 12-2 tech. fall  claiming her title.

At 65kg in the U20 division, redshirt freshman’s Ella Schmit and Reese Larramendy met in the finals. After two matches, Larramendy took the first place finish over Schmit, both matches via tech. fall.

Along with the four finalists, the Hawkeyes had three additional place winners in the U20 division, and one in U23. Emily Frost took 4^th place at 59kg, Emmily Patneaud (62kg) and Rose Cassioppi (76kg) both took fifth place, and Emilie Gonzalez brought home a 7^th place finish at 50kg.

ANN ARBOR, MICH. – The University of Iowa softball team dropped game three of the series against Michigan, 6-5, on Sunday afternoon at Alumni Field at Carol Hutchins Stadium.

Junior Devyn Greer got the start for the Hawkeyes. She ended up going 5 1/3 innings allowing five runs on six hits and struck out four.

The Wolverines got on the board first with an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning. Michigan did not record another hit until the sixth inning.

The Hawkeye evened the score at one in the top of the fourth as junior Rylie Moss came around to score on a fielder’s choice from Greer. Iowa took the lead in the sixth as Moss scored on another fielder’s choice to make it, 2-1. Senior Brylee Klosterman added to the Hawkeye lead with an infield RBI single to push the lead to 3-1.

Michigan answered back in the bottom of the sixth with a solo shot and a three-run home run to take the, 5-3, lead. The Hawkeyes were not done yet as freshman Jena Young sent a no-doubter over the centerfield wall to tie the game at five.

The Wolverines were able to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh. They walked it off with a single to left field to secure the series sweep.

Sophomore Jalen Adams (9-9) was charged with the loss in relief. Iowa finished the game with five runs on seven hits.

UP NEXT

The University of Iowa softball team travel to Ames, Iowa to take on Iowa State in the 2024 Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series on Tuesday April 16. First pitch at the Cyclone Sports Complex is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network with John Leo on the call.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The University of Iowa baseball team was defeated by Ohio State, 11-1, in eight innings on Sunday afternoon at Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium.

Brody Brecht started for the Hawkeyes on the mound. The Ankeny, Iowa, native threw 3 1/3 innings allowing three runs on three hits. He struck out three and walked four.

The Hawkeyes used five different arms out of the bullpen following Brecht’s departure, but none could styme Ohio State’s offense. The Buckeyes hit four home runs in the run rule victory.

“We came out and scored a run in the first inning and had some good at bats,” said head coach Rick Heller. “Then we had some opportunities in the second and thought we might break it open. Then we had a couple bad at bats and ended up not scoring. Which was big in this game. We had another chance in the fifth offensively, a chance to maybe break the game open, and again we followed it up again with two bad at bats. Went to the bullpen in the fifth and it didn’t go well, they jumped on us for five and four with two outs and we didn’t pitch well after that.”

Davis Cop was 2-for-4 as the lone Hawkeye with a multi-hit performance. Reese Moore plated the only run for Iowa on an RBI single in the first inning.

Iowa hit .179 (5-28) on the day to Ohio State’s .323 (10-31) and the Buckeyes had seven two-out RBIs.

“It was a just a disappointing day for us,” said Heller. “We hit almost 20 groundballs on a day when the wind was blowing out 25 miles per hour. Pitch selection and poor execution when we had opportunities early to jump on them. Kind of the story, we didn’t play well. We didn’t hit well, and we didn’t pitch well, and that is what happens when you do those two things together. Ohio State made us pay.”

The Hawkeyes return to action in Iowa City on Wednesday against Bradley at Duane Banks Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The 61st-ranked University of Iowa women’s tennis team swept Penn State, 4-0, in its home finale on Sunday at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex.

The victory brings the Hawkeyes’ record to 10-10 overall and 5-4 in Big Ten action.

The Hawkeyes started strong in doubles competition, coming back to capture the point after trailing in a tiebreaker match.

On court two, junior Barbora Pokorna and sophomore Pia Kranholdt captured the first win over Olivia Dorner and Yvonne Zuffova, 6-3, to bring their season record to 11-5.

In the No. 3 position, junior Marisa Schmidt and sophomore Nikita Vishwase fell to Jordina Cegarra Ramirez and Alina Lebedeva, 6-3, evening up the doubles competition.

It came down to sophomore Daianne Hayashida and senior Vipasha Mehra on court one where it was deadlocked at six all against Sofiya Chekhlystova and Karly Friedland. The Hawkeye duo claimed the tiebreaker, 7-5, to give Iowa the 1-0 lead.

The action didn’t stop there, as the Hawkeyes captured three wins in singles at No. 2, 1, and 5 to clinch the win.

At No. 2, Schmidt picked up her 12th victory of the season, downing Olivia Dorner, 6-2, 6-0. Hayashida followed with a straight set win over Sofiya Chekylstova, 6-3, 6-3.

On court five, Mehra went out with a bang in her final home match, downing Karly Friedland, 6-0, 2-6, 6-0 to clinch the team win. The senior now holds an 8-5 record this season, including going 4-1 at home.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH SASHA SCHMID

“We are so proud of our senior, Vippy. It was a great day to honor her, and it was so fitting that she clinched the doubles and singles points today on such a gorgeous day in Iowa City. It was a great team effort and a wonderful way to end our home season at the HTRC. I’m proud of the team and their fight, and it could not have been a better script. We will have a good week of practice and get ready to get on the road and finish with Michigan and Michigan State.”

HEAR FROM SENIOR VIPASHA MEHRA

“First off, I want to mention the night I had with my team at the Senior Night banquet, it was absolutely perfect. I was very emotional about playing today, especially against Penn State since I clinched the point last year against them. I felt I had something to prove. I am really happy I could capture the clinch, and I could not have had a better Senior Day. I am so thankful for everyone.”

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes will finish their regular season competition next weekend in Michigan, with a pair of Big Ten duals. Iowa will face Michigan on Saturday and Michigan State on Sunday.