Iowa State Softball Notches Win in Non-Conference Battle vs. Creighton

AMES, Iowa - The Iowa State softball team recorded a 6-2 victory vs. Creighton Thursday afternoon at the Southwest Athletic Complex. Lindsey Herrin led ISU, notching her first victory in the circle this season to improve her record to 1-0. As a team, the Cyclones improve to 17-22 overall while Creighton falls to 21-25.

Iowa State got all the runs they would need when they broke a scoreless tie with a four-run third inning. ISU had loaded the bases in the bottom of the second, but Bluejay pitcher Kristin Melton forced Molly McNertney to fly out to keep the Cyclones off the scoreboard.

In the bottom of the third ISU once again mounted a scoring threat when Julia Lindsey open the stanza with a single through the left side. Erica Martinez drove a single into left center to push Lindsey over to second and into scoring position with just one out away. The second strikeout of the inning by Melton put the Cyclones' backs against the wall as they faced yet another scoreless inning with runners left on base. Kelly Wardein then upped the stakes with a single to load the bases. Starting catcher Katie Ruby made sure ISU got something out of he inning and came up huge by belting her first triple of the season, scoring Lindsey, Martinez and Wardein.

Kristin Shipley extended ISU's lead to 4-0 as she brought Ruby home with a single to second base. Melton, who finished the afternoon with five strikeouts, got her third of the inning to end the Cyclone scoring spree.

Creighton cut into Iowa State's four-run lead, scoring a single run in the top of the fifth. The run was unearned as the Cyclones committed an error allowing Stacey Rybar, who walked to get on base, advance all the way to third. She eventually came in to score on a ground out by Sami Herbster.

Iowa State tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to extend its lead to 6-1. The Bluejays committed two errors in the inning, which allowed Ashley Core and Amberly Lessenger to score.

Creighton posted a threat in the top of the seventh, when DeAnn Kastler drilled a two out double to right center scoring Katie Ayers. Herrin remained in control, forcing Kari Shank to pop up to Diana Rueter at first for the third and final out.

Herrin finished the day working six innings and allowed just two Bluejays runners to score on six hits. Herrin has now made seven appearances in the circle this season for ISU.

The Cyclones have a day off before they travel to Lawrence, Kan to wrap up the 2002 regular season over the weekend vs. Kansas. The contest will be the final conference series this season for ISU.