Cyclones Lose Intrastate Softball Battle vs. Iowa

AMES, Iowa - The Iowa softball team scored runs in the opening four innings to down Iowa State 10-4 in a windy intrastate battle Tuesday afternoon at the Southwest Athletic Complex. ISU's Julia Lindsey finished the day 3-for-4 at the plate and scored a run, but it wasn't enough as the Cyclones fall to 15-17 overall this season. The Hawkeyes were led by Christina Smaltz and Jessica Bashor who each tallied a home run to help Iowa improve to 28-14 overall.

The Hawkeyes took an early lead scoring two runs in the top of the first. They were able to add to their lead notching another run in the top of the second on a RBI ground out by Kristi Johnson. Iowa State finally answered when Kelly Wardein registered her first career home run to cut Iowa's lead to one. Her homer brought in Katie Ruby who had walked to open the inning.

The Hawkeyes answered right back pushing their lead back out to three with two runs in the top of the fourth and then blew the game open with a five-run fourth inning to take a 10-2 advantage.

Iowa State avoided the eight-run rule when they pushed two run across in the bottom of the fifth to ensure the game would go the full seven innings. Doubles by Lindsey and Martinez highlighted the inning as the Cyclones brought the game to within six.

Iowa starting pitcher Kristi Hanks got the win to improve to 14-9 after scattering five hits over five innings of work. She allowed four runs to score and struck out four Cyclone batters. Martinez took the loss for Iowa State to fall to 8-10 overall this year. Martinez lasted 3 2/3 innings and gave up 10 runs on nine hits. Linsdey Herrin came on in relief, her fourth appearance in the circle this year, and worked the final 3 1/3 innings.

ISU will be back out at the Southwest Athletic Complex on Wednesday for a Big 12 match up vs. No. 4 Nebraska. First pitch will be at 3:30 p.m.