Iowa State Softball Drops Tough 4-2 Extra Innings Battle to No. 6 Texas A&M

COLLEGE STATION, Texas ? The Iowa State softball team battled back from an early 2-0 deficit to tie sixth-ranked Texas A&M before falling to the Aggies, 4-2, on an eighth inning two-run blast off the bat of A&M starting pitcher Megan Gibson at the Aggie Softball Complex on Sunday. With the setback, the Cyclones fall to 12-22 overall and 0-8 in Big 12 action, while Texas A&M improves to 36-3 and 7-1 in conference play.

The Aggies jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the first inning when the lead off hitter Sharonda McDonald singled and advanced to second on an error by ISU senior third baseman Diana Reuter. A triple by Jamie Hinshaw scored McDonald for the first run of the afternoon. Jana James followed with an RBI single to left center to chase home Hinshaw.

In the top of the second, ISU began chipping away at the Aggie lead when Reuter made up for her first inning miscue with a solo home run to center field. The Cyclone sophomore pitcher Katie Reichling allowed one hit over the next two innings, giving Iowa State the opportunity to tie the contest in the fourth. Freshman Kristy Olsen went in to pinch run for senior Misty Kimura, who reached on a fielder's choice, and scored on a RBI double to left center by junior Cary Akins.

The score remained knotted at 2-2 until the bottom of the eighth when, with two outs, James doubled to left off of ISU sophomore Alyssa Ransom, who relieved Reichling in the fourth. In the next at bat, Gibson insured victory for the Aggies with a two-run walk off home run to left field to lift Texas A&M to victory. With the loss, Ransom falls to 6-13 on the year.

Iowa State returns to Big 12 action on Wednesday when it travels to Lincoln, Neb., for a doubleheader with Nebraska. The Cornhuskers enter Wednesday's contest with a 24-14 overall mark and a 2-5 Big 12 ledger following a 6-3 loss on Sunday at Baylor.