Iowa State Rallies To Upset No. 8 Baylor, 2-1

AMES, Iowa ? Freshman Paige Jensen's clutch two-out double to center scored sophomore Ashley Killeen for the game winning run in the bottom of the eighth as Iowa State upset No. 8 Baylor, 2-1, at the Southwest Athletic Complex on Saturday. It marks the second time in as many weekends that the Cyclones have upended a Big 12 opponent ranked in the Top 10. Last week in Austin, ISU defeated Texas, 1-0, when the Longhorns were ranked third in the nation. The Cyclones improve to 18-27 overall and 3-12 in league action.

Both teams were unable to score during regulation play sending the game to extra innings. In the top of the eighth, Baylor's lead off hitter Carrie Leerberg gave the Bears a 1-0 lead when she hit her first career home run to right field.

In the bottom half of the inning, junior Cary Akins singled to center to give the Cyclones a lead off base runner. However on the next play, Baylor was able to get Akins, the lead runner, at second when sophomore Ashley Quade grounded into a fielder's choice. ISU head coach Ruth Crowe inserted junior Kristen Karanzias into the game as a pinch runner for Quade. Karanzias then moved into scoring position when sophomore Katie Reichling grounded out to first. Killeen then came to the plate and promptly singled down the line in right field to score Karanzias ahead of the tag attempt by Baylor catcher Melissa Huffhines. With Killeen on first, Jensen stepped into the batter's box and laced a double to center. Crowe, coaching at third, had Killeen coming all the way and the gamble paid off as Killeen slid to avoid the tag of Huffhines and scored the winning run.

Alyssa Ransom picked up the pitching victory, improving her record to 11-16 on the season. Ransom came in the game in the eighth with two on and one out in relief of Reichling, the starter. Ransom got the next two batters to ground out to get out of the game. Reichling had a solid outing in the circle, working seven and a third innings, giving up a run on eight hits with three strikeouts.

“I thought we did a great job all the way around,” Crowe said. “I told the kids that if we were in the game late, we had a chance to win and we did. I thought Katie (Reichling) pitched a great game and I thought we played outstanding defense. Paige (Jensen) and Ashley (Killeen) had key hits for us today. I thought the kids did a great job. They really found a way to win today.”

The two teams square off in the series finale on Sunday at noon at the Southwest Athletic Complex.