by LAWRENCE, Kan. – Iowa State (31-19, 6-12 Big 12) wrapped up the 2021 regular season by completing a three-game sweep of Kansas (22-26, 2-16 Big 12), 12-4, in game three on Sunday at Arrocha Ballpark.
Sami Williams went 2-of-3 at the plate with a triple and a home run on the day. Williams collected three RBI, while Mikayla Ramos had two. They are both now at 52 RBI for the season, tying the single-season program record set by Erica Miller in 2013.
Iowa State 12, Kansas 4
The Cyclones manufactured the game’s first run in the second inning despite not collecting their first hit until the top of the third. Kasey Simpson drew a one-out walk to continue a strong weekend by the sophomore. Logan Schaben then reached on a KU error while putting down a sacrifice bunt, allowing Simpson to advance to third. Skyler Ramos then collected a RBI, as Simpson scored on yet another bunt and KU error.
Williams collected Iowa State’s first hit of the day by crushing a lead-off solo homer in the third. It was Williams’ 19th home run of the season, extending her single-season Iowa State record. Another KU error allowed Alesia Ranches to reach base, followed by a RBI single to center field from Kali Gose, extending the lead to 3-0.
Mikayla Ramos drove a RBI double down the left field line in the fourth, as Williams raced home to score from first to make it a 4-0 Cyclone lead.
Kansas scratched out its first run of the day in the home half of the fifth, as Macy Omli and Morgyn Wynne traded back-to-back doubles. Wynne drove in the run with a shot to right center, cutting the ISU lead to 4-1.
Iowa State pushed three more runs across in the top of the sixth. Skyler Ramos was hit by pitch to lead off the inning, followed by a walk for Carli Spelhaug. Williams then drive a two-RBI triple to center field, extending the lead to 6-1. Mikayla Ramos then scored Williams with a sacrifice fly to make it 7-1.
Kansas answered with three runs of their own on a three-run home run by Shelby Gayre.
The Cyclones put a cap on the program’s first series sweep in Lawrence since 1989 by exploding for five runs on six hits in the top of the seventh. Simpson and Skyler Ramos each collected RBI base hits, followed by a two-run home run by Carli Spelhaug. Ochoa closed out the scoring with a RBI double to center.
Pitcher Karlie Charles improved to 11-8 on the season with the complete game victory. Charles had four strikeouts in 7.0 innings of work.
