IOWA CITY — Iowa State (22-15, 4-8 Big 12) heads to Bob Pearl Field today with significant momentum and a chance to claim early season bragging rights in the first of two Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk meetings scheduled for 2026.
The Cyclones arrive in Iowa City on the heels of a historic performance against No. 14 Arizona. In a thrilling series finale on Monday, Iowa State erased a five-run deficit by plating seven runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to secure a 12-10 walk-off victory, marking their first
win over a ranked opponent this season.
Iowa State has been nearly untouchable in non-weekend games this year, boasting a perfect 3-0 record in midweek contests. They face an Iowa Hawkeyes squad (21-16, 5-10 Big Ten) currently in a transition year under first-year head coach Stacy May-Johnson. May-Johnson played at Iowa from 2003 to 2006.
Historically, the Cyclones have a 42-35-2 lead in the all-time series against their in-state rivals. Since taking over the program in 2018, Iowa State head coach Jamie Pinkerton has been dominant in this matchup, posting a 5-1 record against the Hawkeyes.
Iowa State’s offense has been the story of the 2026 campaign, putting up the most prolific numbers in program history through the first month of action. The Cyclones currently hold a statistical advantage over the Hawkeyes in nearly every major offensive category, including team batting average (.328 to .292) and home runs (53 to 44).
Cyclones to watch
Reagan Bartholomew: The senior hero, and Waukee native, of the Arizona comeback, Bartholomew leads the team with a blistering .434 batting average and has already belted 10 home runs this season.
Jessie Clemons: After a historic freshman year, the Pleasant Valley alumna continues to be a force, leading the Big 12 with 16 doubles
Tatum Johnson: A consistent power threat, the Chino Hills, Calif., native leads the Cyclones in run production with 37 RBIs.
Lauren Schurman: The Newark, Del., native carries a 12-5 record and a 3.73 ERA into the midweek clash. She already has 30 appearances this season and has twice been named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week.
How to watch
First pitch is set for 5 p.m. at Bob Pearl Field, which has a capacity of 1,500.
Fans unable to travel to Iowa City can follow the action on the Big Ten Network.
Live stats are available on StatBroadcast.
Next up
Following this non-conference tilt, Iowa State returns to Ames for a high-stakes series against No. 19 Oklahoma State beginning Friday at 4 p.m.
