LUBBOCK, Texas — With a home run each game in the series against No. 2 Texas Tech, Mizzou transfer Kadence Shepherd’s bat gave Iowa State a daily highlight over the weekend. The sophomore from Blue Springs, Mo., connected on her fifth, sixth and seventh home runs of the season.
The Cyclones were swept in the series against the Red Raiders, with scores of 9-1 (five innings) on Friday, 10-2 (five innings) on Saturday and 17-6 (five innings) on Sunday.
Game one
On Friday night, the No. 2 Texas Tech Red Raiders
snapped Iowa State’s five-game winning streak with a dominant 9-1 victory in five innings. The game was defined by harsh conditions, as both teams contended with 25 mph winds and gusts reaching 35 mph. Despite the elements, Texas Tech’s offense eventually overwhelmed the Cyclones, concluding the game early via the run rule.
The scoring began in the bottom of the first inning when Texas Tech took a 1-0 lead. This opening run was the result of a fielder’s choice that led to confusion on the basepaths and a subsequent Iowa State error. The Cyclones responded immediately in the top of the second inning when Kadence Shepherd launched a solo home run on the first pitch she saw, briefly tying the game at 1-1. However, the Red Raiders regained control in the bottom of the frame, using an RBI groundout and an RBI double to pull ahead 3-1.
After a scoreless third inning, Texas Tech began to pull away in the fourth when Lagi Quiroga hit a two-run home run, extending the lead to 5-1. The Red Raiders then secured the run-rule win in the bottom of the fifth inning by hitting two separate two-run home runs, which pushed the final margin to eight runs.
Key individual performances featured Texas Tech pitcher NiJaree Canady, who was a force in the circle, striking out eight batters and allowing only one run on two hits. Along with Quiroga, Desirae Spearman and Jackie Lis also homered for the Red Raiders. For Iowa State, Kadence Shepherd and Jessie Clemons accounted for the team’s only two hits. Lauren Schurman took the loss for the Cyclones, pitching four innings and allowing five runs before being relieved by Ava Mullen.
Game two
On Saturday, the second-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders secured another dominant run-rule victory, defeating Iowa State 10-2 in five innings. The Red Raiders established an early advantage by plating four runs on four hits in the opening inning, highlighted by two-out RBI singles from Taylor Pannell and Hailey Toney, along with a two-RBI single from Jasmyn Burns.
For the second consecutive day, Kadence Shepherd provided the Cyclones’ first run with a solo home run in the second inning, briefly making the score 4-1. However, Texas Tech responded immediately in the bottom of the second with three more runs, extending their lead to 7-1, and then added two more in the third to push the margin to 9-1.
Iowa State showed a “last gasp” of momentum in the fourth inning when Shepherd hit a one-out single and eventually scored on a double by pinch-hitter Victoria Prado, bringing the score to 9-2. The game concluded in the bottom of the fifth inning when Mia Williams hit a solo home run to invoke the eight-run rule, marking the second straight day the Red Raiders ended the contest with a walk-off.
Game three
In the final game of the series on Sunday, Iowa State managed to take its first lead of the weekend during the opening inning. This early advantage came courtesy of Reagan Bartholomew, who hit a solo home run over the left-field fence. However, Texas Tech responded immediately in the bottom of the first when Kaitlyn Terry hit a solo home run of her own to tie the game at 1-1.
The game shifted dramatically in the second inning when Texas Tech capitalized on three Iowa State errors. These defensive miscues allowed the Red Raiders to plate 12 runs in the frame, 11 of which were unearned, resulting in a commanding 13-1 lead for Texas Tech.
The Cyclones attempted to rally in the third inning after loading the bases with a hit-by-pitch, a double, and a walk. With two outs and two strikes, Kadence Shepherd hit a grand slam to clear the bases and cut the lead to 13-5.
Texas Tech further extended its lead in the fourth inning by scoring four additional runs, pushing the score to 17-5. Iowa State’s final scoring effort occurred in the fifth inning when Bartholomew hit her second solo home run of the contest, bringing the final score to 17-6.
Up next
Iowa State will be back in action on Tuesday as they host the University of Northern Iowa at 4 p.m.
