ISU Softball Downs Missouri in Opening Day of Big 12 Tournament

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Iowa State softball team defeated Missouri 1-0 on the opening day of the 2002 Big 12 tournament. The contest vs. MU was a play-in game, so now the Cyclones will face Texas at 7:30 p.m. tonight in the first round of the double-elimination tournament. Erica Martinez was dominate in the circle holding MU scoreless on just two hits. Katie Ruby was the hero offensively as she scored the winning run on a solo homer in the bottom of the second.

The win was the third this season vs. Missouri and helped improve the Cyclones overall record to 17-20. The loss eliminated the Tigers from the tournament and finalized their overall record at 29-33.

Martinez finished the game with four strikeouts and just one walked batter. The win improved the junior's recorded to 10-16 this season and its was her fourth shutout of the year.

The Cyclones will now face No. 1 seed Texas at 7:30 p.m. The Longhorns swept ISU in Ames earlier this season. A win will put ISU in a 5 p.m. game on Friday and a loss will put ISU in a 1:30 p.m. contest.