Iowa State Falls to Kansas 9-4 in Big 12 Softball Action

AMES, Iowa ? In a game that saw Iowa State and Kansas combine for 26 hits, the visiting Jayhawks emerged with a 9-4 victory in Big 12 play on Saturday at the ISU Southwest Athletic Complex. With the loss, the Cyclones fall to 18-30 overall and 3-14 in conference play.

Iowa State jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Junior Cary Akins got the offense started with a one-out double down the left field line. In the next at-bat, sophomore Jessica Quade drove in Akins with a two-run homer to left.

However in the third inning, Kansas exploded for four runs on seven hits to take a 4-2 lead. In the fourth, the Jayhawks added two more runs to extend their lead to 6-2.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Cyclones tried to mount a rally beginning with sophomore Katie Reichling's two-out solo home run to right field. Sohpomore Ashley Killeen then doubled to left to keep the inning alive. Senior Diana Reuter promptly doubled to center to chase home pinch runner Amber Wood from second to cut the Kansas lead to 6-4.

But in the Jayhawks secure the victory with a run in the top of the sixth and two more runs in the seventh.

ISU starting pitcher Alyssa Ransom took the loss, dropping her record to 11-18 on the season.

Prior to the start of Saturday's game, the Iowa State softball program paid tribute to former Cyclone and Canadian Olympic Team member Eric Woods White by retiring her jersey. Woods White played for ISU 1996-99 and still ranks among the career leaders in several statistical categories.

The two teams meet in the regular season finale for both squads on Sunday at noon. Following Sunday's game, the Cyclone senior class of Diana Reuter, Kim Rodgers, Misty Kimura and Amber Wood will be honored.