CEDAR FALLS – Iowa State (5-0) finished off an undefeated opening weekend at the Doc Halverson UNI Dome Tournament on Sunday with a 10-1 victory over Drake (1-3). With the win, Iowa State opens a season 5-0 for the first time since 2016.
Mikayla Ramos and Skyler Ramos both went 2-of-3 at the plate with a run, while pitcher Ellie Spelhaug picked up her third win of the weekend in an impressive outing. Spelhaug recorded a career-high six strikeouts in the complete game victory.
The Cyclones’ team speed was also on display Sunday, as they tied a school record with seven stolen bases.
Iowa State 10, Drake 1
The Cyclones got off to a fast start on Sunday, scoring twice in the top of the first. Mikayla Ramos collected the first base hit of the day on a two-out single to center field. Alesia Ranches then drew a walk, followed by Logan Schaben being hit by pitch to load the bases. Freshman Milaysia Ochoa then came through with a two-RBI single to center, putting the Cyclones in front 2-0.
Drake answered in the bottom half of the inning with its lone run of the day. Macy Johnson tallied a double to left, and later scored on a RBI single up the middle by Alexia Lara.
Ellie Spelhaug was dominant in the circle from that point forward. The sophomore hurler surrendered just two hits in the final six innings, and her six strikeouts kept the Bulldog offense at bay throughout the afternoon.
Iowa State added to its lead in the top of the second. Freshman Kali Gose delivered a lead-off single, followed by a ground rule double for Skyler Ramos. Carli Spelhaug then came up with a sac fly to score Gose, followed by a RBI single off the bat of Mikayla Ramos to score Skyler Ramos.
Two more runs came across in the third, as the Cyclone offense worked like clockwork. Schaben collected a base hit, followed by an Ochoa walk. Freshman Alyssa Orr then collected the first RBIs of her collegiate career with a double down the left field line, extending the ISU lead to 6-1.
Sami Williams and Malia Cockrell brought the offense back to life in the sixth, each collecting RBI base hits to put Iowa State in front 8-1. For Cockrell, a freshman, the pinch hit RBI single was the first hit of her carer.
The Cyclone tacked on two final runs in the top of the seventh, aided by a pair of Bulldog errors.
For the tournament, senior Skyler Ramos put together the best string of offense of her career. Ramos was a blistering 9-of-13 at the plate with three doubles, a home run and six runs scored in a breakout weekend. Mikayla Ramos nearly matched those numbers with a 9-of-17 weekend, while also collecting three doubles and a home run.
Ellie Spelhaug finished the weekend 3-0 in three appearances. The sophomore got 14.0 innings of work under her belt with a 1.50 ERA and 12 strikeouts.
On Deck
Iowa State is back in action next weekend at the FAU Strikeout Cancer Tournament in Boca Raton, Florida. The Cyclones open the tournament on Friday at 10 a.m. vs. Ole Miss.
