Iowa State Defeats Troy, 2-1

TROY, Ala. ? Senior Misty Kimura scored a run and had a RBI single to help lead Iowa State to a 2-1 win over Troy on Thursday at Troy University's Lady Trojan Complex. Freshman Kristy Olsen scored the other run for ISU. With the victory, the Cyclones improve to 8-13 on the season.

The game started slowly as neither team found the scoreboard in the first inning. In the second, the Cyclones scored first. Kimura walked to reach base. Sophomore Jennifer Bigbee advanced Kimura to second with a single to left. Bigbee and Kimura advanced to second and third, respectively, on a passed ball by the Trojans. Senior Kim Rodgers then walked to load the bases for Iowa State. Sophomore Jessica Quade ripped a single to left field to drive home Kimura.

The Cyclones added another run in their ensuing at bat in the top of the third. Olsen led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch from Troy pitcher Jocelyn McCallum. Olsen then moved to second on the sacrifice bunt by senior Diana Reuter before Kimura scored her from second with a single to centerfield.

Troy cut ISU's lead in half in the fifth inning on a pinch-hit home run to centerfield by Tamra Howren. The Trojans threatened again in the bottom of the seventh when they loaded the bases, but Iowa State thwarted the scoring threat. ISU got Troy's Jessica Lyle to hit into a fielder's choice to get the lead runner on a fielder's choice for the second out. Cyclone sophomore pitcher Alyssa Ransom fired a laser over the heart of the plate on a full count to catch Tara Blackwell looking to end the game.

Iowa State and Troy each had four hits in game, but the difference proved to be two Troy errors.

Ransom earned the complete victory by allowing one run on four hits and striking out five Trojan batters. Her record improves to 5-8.

Iowa State and Troy will meet again on Friday at 4 p.m. (CST) at Troy's Lady Trojan Complex.