AMES — Iowa State evened its weekend series against Baylor with a 2-1 walk-off victory Saturday. Behind sharp pitching and late-game execution, it improved to 29-22 overall and 14-9 in Big 12 play.
After allowing a run in the second inning, the Cyclones settled in defensively and kept the Bears scoreless the rest of the way. Junior McKenna Andrews provided the game-winning hit in the bottom of the seventh with a two-out RBI single to right center, scoring sophomore Isabella Nosan from second to seal the win.
“We just stayed the course and kind of picked away at it,” head coach Jamie Pinkerton said. “We were a lot cleaner defensively and on the mound today, scattering seven hits and not letting anything really roll up.”
Baylor strikes early, Iowa State responds
Baylor opened the scoring in the second inning on a one-out single that brought home a run after an obstruction call at third. Iowa State then answered in the bottom half of the inning, as senior Angelina Allen doubled and was driven home by a double from freshman Karlee Ford to tie the game.
From there, pitching and defense took center stage.
Defense and pitching carry the Cyclones
Junior Jaiden Ralston got the start, pitched four innings and allowed one run on six hits. She was relieved by sophomore Lauren Schurman, who tossed three scoreless innings with one hit allowed and a strikeout to earn her 14th win of the season.
“I really just wanted to go at them,” Schurman said. “In my past couple of games, I was kind of dancing around the zone, but I knew I had to trust myself and my defense. We’ve been working on walks and it was good to cut them down in a tight game like this.”
Iowa State turned a key double play in the third and cut down a runner at third in the fourth to snuff out scoring chances for the Bears.
Late-inning execution seals the win
In the seventh, Ford led off with her second double of the day but was picked off at second. Nosan then walked and advanced on a groundout, which set the stage for Andrews.
“Coming up with two outs and the winning run on second, it can be nerve-racking,” Andrews said. “But I just took it one pitch at a time. I knew that pitch was coming. I had chased it earlier in the game, and this time I squared it up.”
Offensively, the Cyclones totaled seven hits, five of them doubles, and struck out just three times. Ford led the team with two hits and an RBI, while Allen, Andrews and junior Sydney Malott also collected doubles.
Pinkerton emphasized the significance of the win with Sunday’s rubber match looming.
“It’s the last game of the regular season, and it’s a very important one,” Pinkerton said. “We’ll see how Lauren and Jaiden feel, but we’ll put a plan together. We need to finish strong.”
First pitch for the series finale is scheduled for noon Sunday at the Cyclone Sports Complex. The game will stream live on ESPN+.
