Iowa State’s first batter at the plate homered to center field for the Cyclones to earn an early 1-0 lead. BYU would earn two hits from Ailana Agbayani and Huntyr Ava throughout the first three frames, but no runs, keeping the score at 1-0 through three whole innings.
Iowa State then plated three more runs in the top of the fourth. The Cyclones’ clean-up hitter earned a second home run for a 2-0 score. After a follow-up single to left field and a second batter reached base off a fielder’s choice, a third Cyclone run was plated off an RBI single through the right side while the fourth came via a BYU fielding error.
Ava earned BYU’s first run of the day with a solo homer to left field in the bottom of the fourth inning, taking the score to 4-1. BYU pitcher Kate Dahle struck out two batters in the top of the sixth, including a Cyclone ground out, to keep the score at 4-1.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Cougars turned the tide of the game by adding four more runs to make it a 5-4 game in favor of BYU. Agbayani first doubled through the left side and later advanced to third when Maddie Bejarano fouled out.
Zavonidk would then homer to right center, taking the score to 4-3, with BYU down one. Ava stepped up to the plate and singled down the left field line before Owens pocketed BYU’s third home run of the night, giving the Cougars their first lead of the evening at 5-4.
The Cyclones were able to even the score 5-5 in the top of the seventh after a double, walk and RBI single to left field. BYU earned one hit in the bottom of the seventh, but was unable to reach home plate, taking the game into extra innings.
With two outs, BYU entered Ailana Agbayani to the circle in the top of the eighth. Iowa State had runners on first and second when a hit by Alesia Ranches allowed Olivia Wardlow to score off a fielder’s choice and Cougar error, with a 6-5 advantage for the Cyclones.
Looking to stay alive, BYU’s Ava evened the score at 6-6 with her second solo home run of the evening. Maddie Udall then sent a ball deep down the right field line for a triple. With a chance to win the game, Keila Kamoku hit a ball deep into right center field, but it was caught by Iowa State’s right fielder to force the game into a ninth inning.
After a triple of its own down the right field line, Iowa State would then score on a passed ball, taking the game to 7-6 in favor of the Cyclones.
Hailey Morrow then evened the score at 7-7 with a leadoff solo home run past center field in the bottom of the ninth. Bejarano followed with a game-winning homer to right field, securing a 8-7 walk-off win through nine innings.
On Deck
With the series secured, the Cougars will look for a sweep of the Cyclones on Saturday, April 19 at 1 p.m. MDT to conclude the three-game series, with live coverage through Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
