The Cyclones kick off their spring break with a tournament in Oxford, Mississippi this weekend. The team will meet Samford, North Dakota State (NDSU) and No. 21 Ole Miss throughout the Rebel Invitational.
Iowa State enters the tournament at 10-11 on the season. The Cyclones are on a two-game skid after dropping the last two in their three-game series at Houston last weekend. The Rebel Invitational presents a chance to get back on track early, along with another chance to get a coveted ranked win over Ole Miss later in the weekend.
However, the weather could play a factor this in these matchups. Storms are on the forecast in Oxford on Saturday and Sunday, so it will be critical to perform well in Friday’s games to get a strong start.
Samford Preview
Iowa State will meet the Samford Bulldogs at 9:30 a.m. Friday, with a potential rematch on Saturday, pending the weather.
Samford is 16-10 this season. The Bulldogs have lost their last three to Louisiana-Monroe, Northern Alabama and Jacksonville State. The Cyclones have only faced the Bulldogs once, losing 6-2 in 2017.
With a combined ERA of 3.89, the Bulldog bullpen has been a force to be reckoned with this season. They’ve held their opponents to a .257 batting average this season, while the Cyclones are hitting .289 as a team.
At the plate, Olivia Shaw, McKayla Cothran and Katie Campbell lead the charge for Samford, all batting above .300. Another notable Bulldog is Logan Champion.
Despite a .197 average, Champion is one to watch every time she stands in the box. She leads the team with seven home runs.
The matchups serve as a great chance to grab a couple of credible wins for Iowa State. Although it holds a great record, Samford is 0-4 this season against Power Conference opponents. The early game Friday will likely set the tone for the rest of the tournament for the Cyclones.
NDSU Preview
The Cyclones will quickly turn around for a matchup with the NDSU Bison at noon on Friday. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
The Bison have had an up-and-down season. They enter the tournament at 12-13, and will have a chance to improve on that with a pair of games against Samford on Thursday night before they face Iowa State.
NDSU is coming off of a 3-1 loss to Southeastern Louisiana, who knocked off Iowa State 9-3 earlier in the season.
Rylee Henderson has given a spark to the Bison this year. She has struggled in the infield, with five errors, but has made up for it at the plate.
Henderson was named Summit League peak performer of the week of Feb. 24, after going 9-for-11 that weekend. If the bats get hot like that on Friday, it could spell a real problem for the Cyclones.
An advantage for Iowa State comes in the home run category. The Bison have struggled this year with power, putting up eight homers, compared to the Cyclones’ 21 in four fewer games.
The outing should be another very winnable game for the Cyclones in Oxford.
No. 21 Ole Miss Preview
Ole Miss presents the toughest test of the weekend for Iowa State with a pair of games on Sunday, weather permitting.
At 21-4, the Rebels have been one of the hottest teams in softball this season. They beat Western Kentucky 9-5 on Tuesday, and last weekend they went 2-1 against No. 10 Arkansas, handing them their second and third losses of the season. Another notable win was their season-opening win against No. 25 Clemson.
The Cyclones are currently on a two-game win streak against Ole Miss, winning their last contest in 2021 7-6.
The Rebels are not untouchable but have appeared to be recently. Their only loss in the last month was to Arkansas.
Lexie Brady has been outstanding for Ole Miss behind the plate this season. Recently ranked the No. 6 catcher in the nation, Brady is averaging .382 with seven home runs and 21 RBIs.
Miali Guachino was ranked the No. 13 pitcher in the country in the same poll, with an ERA of 1.61. The pitching overall has been phenomenal for the Rebels, with a combined bullpen ERA of 1.99 compared to their opponents’ 6.28. They have held their opponents to a combined .209 average at the plate.
The doubleheader could be a tough one for the Cyclones, but it is another great chance to secure a signature win, barring the threat of rain on Saturday and Sunday.
