Iowa State Softball Notches Two Wins at the 2002 Seminole Invitational

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Iowa State softball team notched wins vs. Auburn and Middle Tennessee State this weekend at the Seminole Invitational in Tallahassee, Fla. The Cyclones opened play on Friday with a 4-1 win vs. Auburn, but were defeated that afternoon 7-0 by Florida State. ISU bounced back Saturday morning, notching a 2-1 victory over Middle Tennessee State, but then were eliminated from tournament play with a 0-7 loss to Southern Illinois Saturday night. The two wins improved Iowa State's overall record to 5-4.

In the Cyclones opening game of the FSU Invite Iowa State faced off against an Auburn team that had played almost 15 more games this season. AU struck first scoring a run in the bottom of the second, but Cyclone starting pitcher Jen Bice, held the Tigers scoreless over the next three innings. ISU was finally able post runs on the board, breaking out with a four run sixth inning. Auburn notched runs in the bottom of the sixth and seventh, but were unable to come back as Iowa State recorded its fourth win of the season.

Friday night, the Cyclones returned to the field to face Florida State, who owned a 15-7 overall record. After being held scoreless in the first, FSU jumped out to a 4-0 advantage, scoring all four runs in the top of the second. ISU starter Erica Martinez got the game back under control, limiting the Seminoles to just one run over the next four innings. The Cyclones were never able to get their offense rolling as FSU starter Leslie Halerich held Iowa State to four hits. Martinez, Molly McNertney, Misty Kimura and Laura Browning all notch a hit for ISU. Florida State added two runs in the top of the seventh to extend its winning margin to 7-0. Martinez finished the night allowing seven runs to score on six hits, along with registering three strikeouts.

Hoping to continue play in the FSU Invite the Cyclones took the field Saturday morning vs. Middle Tennessee State, a win would give ISU a 2-1 record in pool play and an opportunity to continue play in the tournament.

The game proved to be a defensive battle as both starting pitchers held the opposing offenses scoreless through the opening four innings. The Cyclones finally broke the tie, with a two-run fifth inning. Julia Lindsey and Kristen Shipley powered ISU as both notched an RBI in that inning. Shipley finished the contest 2-of-3 at the plate with one run scored and one RBI.

MTS spoiled Bice's run for a shutout, scoring a run in the bottom of the seventh to cut ISU's lead in half. Bice remained strong for Iowa State, hold MTS to just that one run and eventually got the win to help the Cyclones improve their record to 5-3 on the year. Bice limited Middle Tennessee State to just one run on two hits and issued just one walk while striking out four batters.

The win vs. Middle Tennessee State propelled the Cyclones out of pool play and into a Saturday night contest vs. Southern Illinois. SIU struck quickly, scoring a run in the opening inning and then extended its lead to six with five runs in the fourth. The Salukis pushed their winning margin to seven with a solo run in the seventh to improve their overall record to 11-6 on the year. Iowa State was held to just one hit by SIU starter Amy Harre. Martinez took the loss for ISU.

The Cyclones will be back in action next weekend in the Missouri Tournament in Columbia, Mo. ISU's first opponent will be Loyola, Friday at noon.