Iowa State Sweeps Bradley and Creighton at Tulsa Invitational

TULSA, Okla. - The Iowa State softball team swept Bradley, 3-0, and Creighton, 1-0, Friday afternoon at the 2003 Embassy Suites Tulsa Invitational. With the wins, Iowa State improves its overall record to 9-8. ISU is currently on a six-game win streak after winning the Santa Barbara Tournament on Feb. 21-23.

Freshman Kristen Karanzias was the team's winning pitcher against Bradley, striking out six and scattering five hits over six and two-thirds innings. Senior Erica Martinez recorded her second save of the season by striking out the final batter of the game.

ISU got two runs on two hits in the third as freshman Cary Akins and junior Julia Lindsey each scored. Martinez drove Akins home with a RBI single, while Lindsey scored on a passed ball.

Junior Kim Rodgers scored the Cyclones' third run in the fourth inning. She singled to center field and stole second base. Freshman Lindsey Herrin popped out to the second basemen and Rodgers stole third base. Rodgers came around to score when senior Katie Ruby reached on a fielding error by the Bradley third basemen.

In the second game against Creighton, both teams were scoreless until ISU scored in the bottom of the sixth inning. Senior Adi Blackmon singled to start things off and then immediately advanced to second on a throwing error by the pitcher. Martinez then reached first on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a ground out to the shortstop by junior Kelly Wardein, moving Blackmon to third. Blackmon then scored on a passed ball by the catcher.

Blackmon had two of Iowa State's four hits and Lindsey and sophomore Diana Reuter each contributed one. Martinez earned the complete game victory, allowing only two hits to improve to 7-3.

"I thought we played extremely well today, " head coach Ruth Crowe said. "We won our sixth game in a row and we were just glad to keep our streak going into another tournament. The kids played really tough and I'm proud of the effort they gave."

The Cyclones continue tournament play on Saturday when they take on Portland State at 5 p.m., and host Tulsa at 7 p.m.