Cyclones Split To Open Houston Invitational

HOUSTON, Texas – The Iowa State softball team (6-2) split a pair of games at the Houston Invitational on Friday. The Cyclones opened the day with an 8-5 victory over Ball State behind two home runs from Aly Cappaert. Iowa State then dropped a 4-3 extra-inning heartbreaker to the host institution, Houston, in the nightcap.

Game One: Iowa State 8, Ball State 5
Savannah Sanders got the Cyclones started on the right foot. The freshman pitcher, making the third start of her career, shut down the Ball State offense early, holding the Cardinals hitless through three innings. With no outs in the top of the third, Nychole Antillon was able to strike first for Iowa State. The sophomore smashed a solo home run to dead center, giving ISU a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, Ball State responded with three runs of their own, including home runs from Emily Dabkowski and Elise Sandberg to take a 3-1 advantage.

The Cyclones answered right back in a huge way in the top of the fifth. Cathlin Bingham came to the plate and hit a two-out bases loaded double to bring Antillon and Sally Woolpert around to score. Cappaert then stepped into the batter's box and cleared the bases with a three-run homer to center field. The top half of the inning came to an end with Iowa State leading 6-3.

Ball State scored two in the bottom half of the inning, as Rachel Houck hit an RBI triple and was brought in to score by India Steward. Sanders exited the game following a four-inning outing, giving up five runs on just four hits, to go with four strikeouts. Fellow freshman Emma Hylen entered in relief and pitched the final three innings for the Cyclones.

Following a scoreless sixth inning, the Cyclones tacked two more on the scoreboard as Cappaert launched her second home run of the day to score Bingham. The senior's long ball off the scoreboard in right field put Iowa State up 8-5 and marked the third multi-home run game of her career.

Hylen closed the deal in the bottom of the seventh as Iowa State won, 8-5. Hylen gave up just two hits, no runs and struck out two Cardinal batters en route to the first save of her career.

Game Two: Houston 4, Iowa State 3
After a Houston walk, followed by a sacrifice bunt to move the runner into scoring position, the Cyclones turned a 4-3-2 double play to end the inning. Antillon made a tremendous diving play to snag the ball before whipping it to Rachel Hartman at first. The UH runner then attempted to come home and Hartman's throw to catcher Sammie Hildreth was in time to complete the play.

The Cyclone offense came to life in a big way in the top of the second. Antillon got things started with her second solo home run of the day to get Iowa State on the scoreboard. Freshman right fielder Kirsten Caudle then stepped to the plate and followed suit, crushing the first home run of her career over the right field fence, putting Iowa State up 2-0.

Houston responded with solo home runs in the third and fourth inning to knot things back up at 2-2. Once again, Hylen entered in relief of Sanders, this time coming on with two outs in the bottom of the third.

Rachel Hartman came up with a huge two-out RBI single to score Kelsey McFarland in the top of the sixth, as Iowa State regained the lead at 3-2. Pinch hitter Kaylee Bosworth was then hit by pitch to load the bases, but the Cyclones were unable to capitalize further.

In the bottom of the 7^th, Houston's Elise LeBeouf hit a lead-off home run to tie things up at 3-3. It was LeBeouf's second homer of the game. Iowa State junior Mandi Moore came on in relief of Hylen and was able to work out of a bases loaded, no-out situation with three-straight ground balls to send the game to extra innings.

After a scoreless top half for the Cyclones, Houston got a sacrifice fly from Breelyn Thames to win, 4-3.

On Deck
Iowa State will face Toledo on Saturday for day two of the Hilton Houston Plaza Invitational. The Cyclones and Rockets will play at 1 p.m. at Cougar Softball Stadium.

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Players Mentioned

Nychole Antillon

Cathlin Bingham

Kaylee Bosworth

Aly Cappaert

Kirsten Caudle

Rachel Hartman

Sammie Hildreth

Emma Hylen

Kelsey McFarland

Mandi Moore

Savannah Sanders

Sally Woolpert

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