Iowa State Falls To No. 25 Nebraska, 11-5, In Extra Innings

AMES, Iowa ? Nebraska scored six runs with two outs in the top of the eighth inning to break open a 5-5 tie en route to an 11-5 victory over Iowa State at the Southwest Athletic Complex. The setback drops the Cyclones record 16-28 overall and 2-12 in the Big 12.

In the early going it appeared that the Cyclones would break their winless drought against the Cornhuskers when they jumped out to a 5-1 lead after two innings spurred by a four-run first inning. With one out, senior Cary Akins doubled to left. She then advanced to third on a two-out single to right by sophomore Katie Reichling. Sophomore Ashley Killeen then singled to chase home Akins. Senior Diana Reuter then stepped into the batters box and blasted a three-run homer to right to give ISU a 4-0 lead. It was Reuter's fourth home run of the season. In the second, Iowa State added another run on a RBI single to right by senior Kim Rodgers.

But in the top of the fourth Nebraska began chipping away at the Cyclone lead when Cornhusker shortstop Diana Porter hit a three-run shot of her own over the wall in left, making the score 5-4. Nebraska added another run in the fifth to tie the contest before exploding for six runs in the eighth capped by a towering two-run home run to right by Trisha Tannahill.

Cornhusker pitcher Ashley Debuhr, who gave up all of ISU's runs on six hits over the first two innings, silenced the Iowa State bats over the final six innings, only allowing one hit for the remainder of the game. Cyclone sophomore pitcher Alyssa Ransom was given the loss, dropping her season ledger to 10-16.

The loss also extends Iowa State's winless streak versus Nebraska to 22 games dating back to the 1999 campaign.

Iowa State returns to action on Thursday when it steps out of conference to host South Dakota State at 4 p.m. at the Southwest Athletic Complex.