ISU Softball Splits Double-Header at Kansas in Final Big 12 Series of the Year

LAWRENCE, Kan. - The Iowa State softball team earned a split at Kansas Sunday afternoon at Jayhawk Field winning game two 6-3 after falling 5-2 in the series opener. The win gave ISU the eighth seed in next week's Big 12 tournament and a first-round game vs. No. 9 seed Missouri. Lindsey Herrin was one of four Cyclones to notch two or more hits in the Cyclones win vs. KU, she finished 2-of-3 at the plate and drove in a game-high three RBI. The split put Iowa State's overall record at 18-23 and to 7-12 in Big 12 action. Kansas is now 31-23 overall and 7-11 in league play.

In the Cyclones' win, Woodward native Jen Bice made her return to the circle after sitting out the last few weeks with an injury. She worked the opening three innings, giving up two runs on four hits. Herrin came in to replace Bice in the fourth and got the win after pitching just two innings. The win was Herrin's second decision this week and improved her record to 2-0. Martinez came in to secure the game holding KU scoreless in the remaining two innings to earn her first save of the season.

The Cyclones got the lead early, scoring two runs in the opening stanza. The Jayhawks tied the game 2-2, plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. ISU regained the lead at 3-2, but it was short lived as Kansas once again knotted the game with a run in the fifth.

Iowa State took the lead once a for all as three runs came across to score in the top of the sixth. Martinez held KU scoreless on just one hit to secure the Cyclone victory.

In the opening game of the series, KU broke a scoreless tie scoring three runs in the bottom of the third. ISU countered with a run of its own in the top of the fourth, but Kansas added runs in the fifth and sixth innings to put the contest out of reach. Martinez took the loss for ISU after pitching all six innings and allowing five runs to score on nine hits. The junior did register seven strikeouts to push her team leading strikeout total to 165. Herrin paced ISU offensively in the loss, collecting two of the team's five hits and one of the two RBI in the game.

The Cyclones will have a few days off before traveling to Oklahoma City, Okla., to open play in the Big 12 Tournament on Thursday. The Cyclones and Tigers will begin play at 5 p.m. A win would put ISU in a 7:30 p.m. contest vs. Texas that same night.