COLUMBIA, Mo. – Iowa State (19-5) closed out the 2021 Mizzou Tournament with a 6-3 victory over Drake (4-12) on Sunday. The Iowa State vs. Missouri game originally scheduled for 3 p.m. was canceled due to field conditions and inclement weather in the forecast.
The Cyclones close the tournament with a 3-1 record on the weekend at Mizzou Softball Stadium.
Iowa State 6, Drake 3
The top of the Cyclone order got Iowa State off to a fast start on Sunday morning vs. Drake. In the bottom of the first inning, sophomore Carli Spelhaug tallied a lead-off double. Sami Williams followed suit with a double of her own to left center, allowing Spelhaug to score. Mikayla Ramos and Milaysia Ochoa then drew walks to load the bases. Alesia Ranches drew yet another walk in the ensuing at-bat to bring Williams in to score, putting Iowa State in front 2-0 after one inning.
Following a pair of scoreless innings, Drake got on the board with a solo home run by Addie Lightner in the top of the fourth.
Ochoa notched a lead-off single and stole second to give the Cyclone offense a spark in the bottom of the fifth. The speedy freshman was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kasey Simpson, and later scored when Logan Schaben collected a RBI while bunting for a single. With two outs, Emilie Guerra came through in a pinch hit opportunity, tallying a RBI single up the middle to give ISU a 4-1 lead.
The Bulldogs cut the lead to 4-3 with a pair of RBI doubles by Emily Valtman and Emma Richards in the top of the sixth. Karlie Charles entered midway through the inning to relieve starting pitcher Ellie Spelhaug. Spelhaug improved to 7-1 on the season, going 5.0 innings while giving up three runs on six hits with three strikeouts.
Following a lead-off single by Williams, Mikayla Ramos hit the first triple of her career to collect a RBI. Simpson closed out the scoring with a RBI single down the left field line to put the Cyclones in front, 6-3.
Charles went the final 2.0 innings without surrendering a run to secure her first save of the season.
On Deck
Iowa State returns to the Show Me State next weekend for a three-game series at Saint Louis. The series starts on Friday at 3 p.m. CT.
