Iowa State Softball Upsets No. 12 Iowa

IOWA CITY, Iowa - The Iowa State softball team upset nationally ranked No. 12 Iowa 6-4 Wednesday at Pearl Field. Amberly Lessenger led the Cyclones offensively with three RBI. Catcher Mindy Ogan was 3-of-3 with one RBI while Adi Blackmon was 2-of-3 at the plate.

The Hawkeyes took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. A double by Alicia Gerlach scored pinch runner Katie Boney to give Iowa a 1-0 lead.

Iowa State tied the game in the top of the third. Blackmon singled and stole second, and then Lauren Cathey reached on an error advancing Blackmon to third. Erica Martinez's RBI sacrifice fly scored Blackmon to make it, 1-1.

Iowa regained the lead scoring two runs in the bottom of the third. Kristin Johnson led off the inning with a single to right field. Johnson stole second and advanced to third on Amber Morrow sacrifice bunt. Johnson scored on a Lori Leon RBI sacrifice fly. A RBI double by Katy Jendrezejewski scored Morrow giving the Hawks a 3-1 lead.

The Cyclones rallied back scoring five runs in the top of the seventh. Blackmon singled and advanced to second on a Cathey single. Iowa hurler Kristi Hanks walked Martinez to load the bases. Hanks then proceeded to walk pinch hitter Morgan LeCluyse to advance the runners and score Blackmon. Lessenger tripled to right field scoring Cathey, Martinez and LeCluyse to give ISU a 6-3 lead.

The Hawkeyes scored one run in the bottom of the seventh. Gerlach doubled to left center to score Boney to make it, 6-4.

Woodward, native Jen Bice (7-11) recorded the win for Iowa State, allowing four runs on five hits and fanning eight. Julia Lindsay, Kimi Yoshizawa, Cathey and Lessenger each contributed a hit.

The Cyclones, 12-21 overall and 1-7 in the Big 12, play host to No. 14 Nebraska Thursday at 4 p.m.