Iowa State Softball Remains Undefeated in Big 12 Action with Sweep of Missouri

AMES, Iowa - The Iowa State softball team remained undefeated in conference action, sweeping Missouri in a double header Wednesday afternoon at the Southwest Athletic Complex. The Cyclones took game one 10-2 and claimed game two 4-1 to improve to 13-8 overall and to 4-0 in Big 12 action. The sweep was the second conference sweep this season and the second straight for the Cyclones, as they notched back-to-back wins at Texas Tech, March 23-24. Lindsey Herrin powered the ISU offense vs. the Tigers (18-20, 0-4 Big 12), finishing the doubleheader with a .833 batting average after collecting five hits in six at bats.

After a scoreless first inning of game one, the Cyclones blew the game open scoring six runs in the bottom of the second. Herrin got things going with her fifth home run of the season to lead off the inning. Katie Ruby reached on a error by MU's Lindsay Jacoby and then back-to-back singles from Kristen Shipley and Amberly Lessenger loaded the bases. Following a pitching change the Cyclones drew walks from Kimura and Laura Browning, pushing the lead to 3-0. Missouri pitcher Veronica Flournoy got the first two outs of the inning, behind consecutive fielder choices. Erica Martinez then was hit by a pitch, giving Browning a free pass from third to widen the margin to 4-0. Herrin, who led off the inning, came back up to bat and notched her second and third RBI of the stanza with a single to left field. Ruby flied out to right field to end the inning.

The Tigers cut ISU's lead down to 6-2, scoring a single run in the top of the fourth and fifth innings. The Cyclones answered back in the bottom of the fifth, as Ruby and Shipley recorded their first home runs of the season to put the Cyclones up 9-2.

The game was ended in the bottom of the sixth as ISU's Adi Blackmon came in to score giving Iowa State an eight run margin and the victory. Martinez went the distance on the mound for the Cyclones, giving up five hits on the afternoon while striking out eight. The win improved Martinez's pitching record to 6-4 this season.

Game two proved to be a lower scoring affair as the Cyclones edged MU, 4-1. ISU starting pitched Jen Bice was dominate in the conference win, as she allowed just one Tiger runner to score on four hits. She struck out five and showed great control issuing just one walk on the day. She got the win and improves to 7-4 this year.

Offensively, Herrin was once again the leader. She finished the contest a perfect 3-of-3 at the plate with one RBI. Lindsey and Browning were also solid at the dish, recording two hits a piece in the win.

The Cyclones will remain at home this weekend, hosting Texas A&M in single games on Saturday and Sunday. First pitch on Saturday will come at 2 p.m, while Sunday's game will begin at noon.