Iowa State at Utah Primer

Who: Iowa State (26-19, 11-7 Big 12) at Utah (12-34, 4-14 Big 12)

Where: Dumke Family Softball Stadium (1,410) – Salt Lake City, Utah

When: April 25 – 6 p.m. // April 26 – 1 p.m. // April 27 – 12 p.m.

Leading Off
In the midst of its best 20-game stretch (15-5) since 2021, Iowa State will look to earn its fifth Big 12 series win of the season as it heads to Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Utes. The series marks ISU's penultimate road trip of the regular season, and should ISU earn two wins, the team will secure just its second-ever winning conference record (1987).

Iowa State currently sits tied for fourth in the Big 12 standings entering its seventh conference series as it aims for a top-five finish to earn a first-round bye. ISU has climbed to No. 54 in the RPI rankings and looks to continue the ascent as the postseason is just around the corner.

After qualifying for postseason play last season and making the Duke Regional, Utah has had a down first season in the Big 12. The Utes, in their 50th season of collegiate softball, have a young roster like the Cyclones, as only eight players are upperclassmen.

From the Notes:

The Cyclones spent the first seven weeks of the season away from the Cyclone Softball Complex, playing 28 straight games on the road or at a neutral site.
- March 28 was the latest season-opener since 2022. That squad didn't play at home until April 6.
Iowa State went 1-2 in its first Big 12 series, taking the opening game against Houston. For ISU, it was the program's first Big 12-opening win since 2006.
Iowa State earned its first road Big 12 sweep since 2019 in Orlando, defeating UCF in three straight games. The road series sweep also happened to be the team's first since 2021.
Iowa State snapped a seven-game skid to Arizona State in its third conference series, besting the Sun Devils for the first time since 1998, earning a second-straight Big 12 series win.
- For the Cyclones, it was their first back-to-back Big 12 series victory since 2023, when they downed Baylor and Kansas to close the season.
ISU took game one of the conference series against BYU, marking four straight series with a series-opening win.
The Cyclones earned their first road series win over a ranked opponent at No. 17 Oklahoma State, taking the series 2-1.
- The rubber match win over the Cowgirls gave ISU its ninth conference win of the season, setting a new program single-season high.
- The win also gave ISU its third conference series win of the season – the most in a single season in school history.
Iowa State ran its winning streak over in-state foe Iowa to five on April 15, beating the Hawkeyes 9-5. The 14 combined runs were the most in a Cy-Hawk game since 2012.
ISU took two of three games on Easter weekend to claim its fourth conference series win of the season.
After having 11 seniors leave, ISU only has two on this year's roster. Over half of the team, 14, are underclassmen.
- Of Iowa State's most-used lineup this season, just one position player started over 50 percent of last year's games (Angelina Allen).
- Only four players are over the age of 21.
Freshman pitcher Sami Potvin hurled a five-inning perfect game against Grambling State, striking out a career-high nine batters.

Leading the Cyclones
The Cyclone offense is led by a pair of freshmen in Jessie Clemons and Sereniti Trice. Clemons leads the team in batting average (.383), hits (57) and doubles (12), while Trice leads the squad in runs scored (40) and stolen bases (14) as the two are tied for the most hits on the team (49).

Rounding out ISU's offensive attack are returning All-American Angelina Allen, who has the most walks on the team (25), Sydney Malott, who leads the team in home runs (10), Reagan Bartholomew who leads the team in RBI (34) and Tatum Johnson, who leads the team in OPS with a 1.158.

In the circle, five Cyclones have seen action. Lauren Schurman leads the way with a team-low ERA of 3.39. Schurman has hurled 117.2 innings, a team-high, and owns 60 punchouts, also a team-high. Jaiden Ralston has 10 starts in 35 appearances with 48 strikeouts. Freshmen Abby Huhn and Sami Potvin have also seen time, as each has multiple wins on the year.

Overall, the Cyclones are hitting .290 and have produced 220 runs on 347 hits. The team has 110 extra-base hits with 202 RBI, while drawing 127 walks. ISU holds a collective 4.66 ERA and has allowed 371 hits in 289.2 innings of work.

Opponent Outlook
The Utah bats are spearheaded by senior Kaylah Nelsen. Nelsen, who, with two other Utes, will be celebrating Senior Night over the weekend. She leads the team in at-bats, runs scored, hits, doubles, total bases and has only struck out three times this season.

Other prominent members of the Utah attack are Shonty Passi, who is second on the team in batting average, runs scored, hits, and RBI, and Kennedy Proctor, who owns the most RBI on the team with 25.

The Utes tote a five-pitcher staff that is led by three arms. Hailey Maestretti has logged the most innings of work, hurling 114.1 frames, and owns a team-low ERA of 3.73. Shelbee Jones leads the squad in strikeouts, totaling 88, and allows opposing hitters to bat just .275 off of her. The final mainstay in the bullpen in Brooklyn Carreon, who has seen action in 26 games, making 12 starts.

Overall, the Utes are hitting .272 and have produced 200 runs on 345 hits. The team has 90 extra-base hits with 180 RBI, while drawing 150 walks. Utah holds a collective 4.67 ERA and has allowed 389 hits in 306.0 innings of work.

Series History
Iowa State and Utah have met just nine times prior to this weekend, as the Utes hold the all-time advantage, 6-3. This weekend will feature a home/away aspect for the first time in series history, as the previous nine meetings all came at a neutral site. The Cyclones and Utes will be meeting for the first time as conference foes – ISU is 2-1 against league newcomers this season (2-1 vs. Arizona State).

On Deck
After its final conference road trip of the season, Iowa State will return to Iowa for a pair of in-state midweek contests. ISU will head to Iowa City to face Iowa on April 29 before returning to the CSC to face Drake on April 30. Tuesday's game at Iowa is set to begin at 5:30 and will be streamed live on Big Ten Plus.

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Players Mentioned

Angelina Allen

Reagan Bartholomew

Jessie Clemons

Abby Huhn

Tatum Johnson

Sydney Malott

Sami Potvin

Jaiden Ralston

Lauren Schurman

Sereniti Trice

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Iowa State University Athletics