Iowa State Softball Falls to Kansas in Big 12 Double-Header

AMES, Iowa - The Iowa State softball team fell to Kansas 11-3 and 10-6, Saturday at the Southwest Athletic Complex. The Cyclones move to 12-24 overall and 1-10 in the Big 12. Erica Martinez hit her seventh home run of the season going 2-of-5 with two runs and two RBI for the day.

Kansas won the first game of the doubleheader 11-3, belting out four home runs and 13 hits. The Jayhawks jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first inning as Shelly Musser and Leah Tabb combined for two home runs.

KU scored again in the top of the second inning. Erin Garvey reached on an error by Cyclone pitcher Jen Bice and scored as Musser hit her second home run of the day to give Kansas a 6-0 lead.

The Cyclones answered back scoring one run in the bottom of the second. Erica Martinez was hit by the pitch and advanced to second on a single by Lauren Cathey. Martinez scored as Amberly Lessenger reached on an error to make it, 7-1.

ISU added two more runs in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs senior Kimi Yoshizawa singled to right field. Martinez hit her seventh home run of the season to cut the lead to four.

The Jayhawks expanded their lead in the top of the fifth inning scoring four runs on five hits. Leah Hansen scored on a Garvey RBI single to give Kansas a 8-3 edge. With one out and runners on first and third Musser hit her third round-tripper of the day to make it, 11-3.

Due to the eight run rule the game was called after the fifth inning. Jen Bice (7-13) recorded the loss for the Cyclones, allowing four runs on six hits in one inning. Reliever Kristin Ferguson (3-2) gave up five runs on nine hits in four innings. Martinez was 1-of-2 at the plate with two RBI while Lauren Cathey was 2-of-2 at the plate. Morgan LeCluyse, Julia Lindsay and Yoshizawa each contributed a hit.

Kansas took the night cap, 10-6. Lindsay was three of five at the plate with two runs to lead the Cyclones offensively. KU took an early 3-0 lead after the top of the first inning.

Iowa State answered back scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Lindsay singled to right field and advanced to second on a Morgan LeCluyse single. Lessenger singled down the right field line to score Lindsay and LeCluyse to make it, 3-2.

The Jayhawks added two more runs in the top of the second to give KU a 5-2 lead.

The Cyclones added two more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Lindsay singled and advanced to second on a LeCluyse single. Martinez reached on an error scoring Lindsay and LeCluyse to make it, 5-4.

KU expanded the lead scoring two runs in the top of the fourth and three runs in the top of the fifth to give Kansas a 10-4 lead.

ISU scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Yoshizawa and Shipley walked to put runners on first and second. A sacrifice fly by LeCluyse advanced pinch runner Rainey Eanes to third. Shipley advanced to second and Eanes scored on a wild pitch. Pinch hitter Sarah Kinney reached on an error scoring Shipley to make it a 10-6 ballgame.

The Cyclones return to action when they host Drake,Tuesday at 4 p.m., at the Southwest Athletic Complex.