Iowa State Defeats No. 24 Iowa, 4-3, in 12 Innings

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Senior Katie Ruby hit a two-run home run in the top of the first inning to help Iowa State defeat No. 24 Iowa, 4-3, in a school-record 12 innings Wednesday afternoon in Iowa City. With the win, which was Iowa State's third in a row, the Cyclones improve to 17-22 on the season.

Senior Erica Martinez pitched the entire 12 innings and had a no-hitter going through the fifth inning. She had two strikeouts and gave up nine hits while facing 46 batters. She improves her record to 10-7 on the season. Iowa relief pitcher Ali Arnold pitched 10 of the 12 innings for the Hawkeyes and recorded the loss.

The Cyclones got on the board right away in the first half when junior Julia Lindsey walked and Ruby, who was named the Big 12 Player of the Week, hit her fifth home run of the season to put ISU up 2-0. ISU added another run in the top of the third inning when Martinez scored on a wild pitch by Arnold and the Cyclones went up 3-0.

The Hawkeyes didn't get on the scoreboard until the bottom of the sixth inning when Iowa's Stacy May scored and Stephanie Park scored on an Ali Arnold single into center field. Suddenly the score was 3-2 to start the seventh inning. The Hawkeyes added the tie run when Iowa short stop Kristin Johnson scored from third when May hit a single to right field. The score was 3-3.

The two teams went the next four innings with no score until Iowa State got up to bat in the top of the 12th inning. After Martinez flied out to right field, sophomore Lindsey Herrin reached base on a single. Sophomore Kim Rodgers bunted and reached base just before the throw and ISU had runners on second and first base. Junior Kelly Wardein reached first on a fielder's choice, which Rodgers was called out on second base and Herrin scored on a wild throwing error by Iowa's second basemen. The run broke a 3-3 tie and gave the Cyclones the lead. Iowa went three and out in the bottom of the 12th inning and Iowa State had a 4-3 win.

"It was a good win against a ranked team and with Erica coming in and throwing 12 innings was incredible," head coach Ruth Crowe said. "Our defense came through when we needed them to and we got some great hits. It really helps us in our quest to finish strong in the Big 12."

Iowa State had seven hits to Iowa's nine and the Hawkeyes had three errors to ISU's two. ISU had hits from Ruby, Herrin (3), Rodgers and junior Kelly Wardein (2).

Iowa State travels to College Station, Texas, to take on league-foe Texas A&M in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 19, starting at 1 p.m.