Cyclones break through in Provo, win series

PROVO, Utah — Iowa State achieved a landmark series victory this weekend at Gail Miller Field in Provo, Utah, winning two out of three games against BYU to secure the program’s first-ever series win on the Cougars’ home grounds. The weekend was highlighted by a historic offensive display on Thursday, where the Cyclones broke the single-season home run record, and concluded with a resilient Saturday performance to clinch the series.

A record-setting 14-10 victory for Iowa State opened the three game series. Entering the game with 62 home runs on the year, the Cyclones hit a four homers to reach 66, easily surpassing the previous school record of 64 set in 2021.

The game remained tight early, with ISU holding a slim 4-3 lead through three innings, but the offense exploded for nine runs across the fourth and fifth frames to take command. Karlee Ford delivered a standout performance with her first career multi-home run game and four RBIs, while Reagan Bartholomew and Kadence Shepherd also contributed long balls.

Bartholomew, Ford, and Jessie Clemons each recorded three hits to lead a 14-hit attack. BYU’s Hailey Shuler attempted to keep pace with two home runs and four RBIs of her own, but Lauren Schurman earned her 15th win of the season after pitching six innings of work.

On Friday, BYU responded with a 6-5 walk-off win to even the series.

Iowa State led 4-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth, aided by a two-run home run – the 67th of the season – from McKenna Andrews, who finished the day 2-for-2 with two RBIs.

However, the Cougars chipped away at the lead, scoring three runs in the sixth inning to pull ahead before Jessie Clemons tied the game in the top of the sixth with an RBI.

In the bottom of the seventh, BYU secured the victory when Lily Owens and Maddie Udall-Woolley – both of whom homered earlier in the game – helped orchestrate the final push. Gianna Mares earned the win for BYU in relief, while Lauren Schurman took the loss for the Cyclones.

Iowa State clinched the series on Saturday, with a 9-6 victory driven by consistent scoring and timely power hitting. The Cyclones took an immediate 1-0 lead in the first inning when Jessie Clemons walked, stole second, and scored on a Karlee Ford sacrifice fly.

After Kadence Shepherd extended the lead to 3-0 with a two-run single in the third, BYU’s Maddie Udall-Woolley answered with a solo home run in the fourth.

The Cyclones pulled further away in the sixth inning when McKenna Andrews launched a two-run home run to right-center, and they added two vital insurance runs in the seventh via an RBI single from Lauren Schurman and a sacrifice fly by Sydney Malott.