CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Iowa softball team took the series finale against Illinois, 6-5, in eight innings on Sunday afternoon at Eichelberger Field.

Sophomore Jalen Adams got the start for the Hawkeyes today allowing only one hit in two innings of work. Seniors Grace Banes and Brylee Klosterman went a combined 5-for-6 at the plate with two RBIs in the game.

The Illini got on the board first with an RBI single up the middle to score one in the bottom of the third. Iowa got on the board in the fifth as Banes and sophomore Tory Bennett each had RBI doubles to bring in three runs to give the Hawkeyes the lead, 3-1. The Illini quickly took back the lead, 4-3, in the home half of the innings on two RBI doubles of their own to plate three. Illinois tacked on another run in the sixth on a pass ball to extend their lead to two.

Banes started the seventh with a double to the wall and came around to score on an RBI single from Bennett to get the Hawkeyes within one. Freshman Devin Bowman singled to right field and Bennett came home after an Illini error to tie the game at five.

Freshman Andrea Jaskowiak (2-0) worked around a one out single in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings. Sophomore Echo Mattiello led off the eighth with Iowa’s fifth double of the game. Illinois had another throwing error on a sacrifice bunt from Skylinn Pogue to allow Mattiello to come around to score to give Iowa the lead, 6-5. Jaskowiak retired the Illini hitters in the final frame to secure the victory for Iowa.

The Hawkeyes finished the game with six runs on 11 hits and one error.

AMES, Iowa – After a run-rule win in five innings in the series-opener, Iowa State (20-29, 6-17 Big 12) got a taste of its own medicine in game two, as UCF (29-22, 11-15 Big 12) responded on Saturday, evening the series at one apiece at it run-ruled the Cyclones, 12-3, in six innings of action.

The UCF bats that produced just two hits on Friday came alive on Saturday, as the Knights produced 13 hits – eight of which went for extra bases. Four Knights had multiple hits on the game while three had multiple RBI.

For the Cyclones, Alesia Ranches was the only player to earn more than one hit, as the fifth-year senior blasted a home run in her second straight game. Tiana Poole, Milaysia Ochoa and Ashley Minor also procured hits on the day.

After a dominant outing at Drake where she picked up her third save of the season, Jaiden Ralston (4-8) was unable to subdue the UCF bats as she gave up six runs (five earned) on seven hits. Aziza Rodriguez also saw time in the circle, matching Ralston’s six runs given up and picking up a pair of punchouts.

Shannon Doherty had a game-high three hits for the Knights as well as a game-high three RBI. Third baseman Jada Cody also had a monster game for UCF as she had two RBI on two hits with a walk. She also flashed the leather on multiple occasions at the hot corner, preventing Cyclone hits.

Kaitlyn Felton (11-5) picked up the win for the Knights, tossing five innings and allowing three runs on five hits. Felton notched three strikeouts before being replaced by Katelyn Cochran who hurled the final stanza, recording two punchouts.

How it Happened

The first inning was scoreless on each side – and was the only scoreless frame of the afternoon.

UCF got the scoring started in the second inning. Chloe Evans laced a leadoff double to the wall and would eventually steal third, putting the Knights in a good spot with no outs. A Jasmine Williams sac fly would bring her in and make it 1-0 early.

UCF tacked on two more in the third. Another RBI from Williams, this time a double, scored one and then a Cyclone error allowed another to cross.

The Knights then proceeded to plate three runs in the next four innings, running their team total to 12 by the end of the game.

ISU’s first run would come in the fourth via Minor who blasted a leadoff, first-pitch solo shot to put ISU on the board.

Then, in the fifth inning, losing 9-1 and down to their final strike, Alesia Ranches belted a two-run homer to trim the Knight lead to six and avoid a five-inning run rule.

UCF would ultimately secure the run rule victory with their fourth-straight three run inning in the sixth, as the Knights tied the series up at one apiece heading into Sunday.

On Deck

Iowa State will conclude the regular season tomorrow, May 5, when it hosts the UCF Knights at the Cyclone Sports Complex for the third and final game of the regular season finale series. Sunday’s game is also Senior Day. Tomorrow’s action begins at noon and will be livestreamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Iowa softball team defeated Illinois, 5-3, on Saturday afternoon at Eichelberger Field.

Freshman Jaylee Ojo (4-3) got the start for the Hawkeyes and had a career day throwing her third complete game of the season. Freshman Soo-Jin Berry was the only Iowa hitter to have a multi-hit game going 2-for-4 with an RBI.

The Hawkeyes were able to load the bases in the top of the second with one out and sophomore Skylinn Pogue capitalized with and RBI single to left field. Senior Grace Baes followed suit with an RBI single of her own to give Iowa the, 2-0, lead. Illinois got one back in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly.

Iowa kept its offense going in the top of the third with an RBI double from freshman Soo-Jin Berry to score Devin Bowman from first base making it a, 3-1, game. Ojo continued to mow down the Illini hitters picking up three strikeouts in the bottom of the third inning.

The Hawkeyes added insurance in the top of the sixth on an RBI double from Avery Jackson and a sac fly from Banes to extend the lead to three. Ojo got into some trouble in the bottom of the seventh as the Illini loaded the bases with no outs. Illinois plated one run on a sac fly to make it, 5-3, and loaded the bases once again. Ojo locked in and got the final two outs to secure the Hawkeye victory.

Iowa finished the game with five runs on nine hits and one error