Cyclones Defeat St. John's and Kent State at Bulldog Classic

FRESNO, Calif. ? The Iowa State softball team had its best offensive day of the season, scoring 13 runs and pounding out 19 hits in victories over St. John's and Kent State on Saturday at the Fresno State Bulldog Classic. The Cyclones defeated St. John's, 7-1, in their first game and capped off the day with a 6-0 victory over Kent State. ISU is now 4-10 on the year.

Against St. John's, the Red Storm got on the scoreboard first with a run in the bottom of the second inning when Neigh Carlson crossed the plate on a Bionka King RBI single to right field.

The Cyclones responded immediately, getting their first runs of the game in the top of the third. Senior Kim Rodgers singled to left center and then stole second on the next pitch. Sophomore Ashley Killeen hit her first triple of the season to score Rodgers. Sophomore Jessica Quade was up next and singled up the middle to give the Cyclones a 2-1 advantage.

ISU added to its lead in the fourth inning. Sophomore Jennifer Bigbee doubled to left center and then advanced to third on a wild pitch by Red Storm pitcher Meghan Allman. Sophomore Fallon Johnson drew a walk, bringing Rodgers to the plate. She immediately hit her first triple of the season, scoring Bigbee and Johnson to give ISU a 4-1 lead. Rodgers' triple was her first of the year and the team's second of the season.

In the top of the seventh, ISU added to its final three runs of the game. The frame started with a single by sophomore Ashley Killeen. Freshman Ellen Buehner came in as a pinch runner for Killeen. Buehner went to second on a walk by Quade, who then left the game for pinch runner freshman Stephanie Mosley. Buehner and Mosley moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by classmate Kristy Olsen. Senior Diana Reuter capitalized on the opportunity, singling to left and scoring Buehner from third. With one out, junior Cary Akins hit a RBI single to center to plate Mosley and advance Reuter to third. Reuter would come home on a Bigbee single to center field for the Cyclones' final run of the game. Reichling was on the mound for ISU and picked up her second win of the season to improve her record to 2-3.

Iowa State's seven runs and 11 hits were both season highs.

Against the Golden Flashes of Kent State, Iowa State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Fresno native Misty Kimura pushed the first run across with a RBI single, scoring Killeen from second, who reached base after being hit by a pitch. Quade walked to put Killeen in scoring position and then moved to second on Kimura's hit.

Then with two outs, Reichling became the second ISU batter of the inning to be hit by a pitch. With Reichling and Kimura on base, Akins had a RBI single, her second of the day.

The Cyclones added another run in the second inning and closed out the scoring with two insurance runs in the third inning. Ransom picked up her second win of the season on the mound, her record improving to 2-6.

Iowa State will conclude play at the Fresno State Bulldog Classic on Sunday with an 11 a.m. (CST) contest against Ole Miss.