ISU Rally Falls Short Against Ragin' Cajuns

LAFAYETTE, La. ? No. 16 Louisiana-Lafayette took a six-run lead and was able to fend off a late Iowa State rally as it defeated the Cyclones, 6-3, in action at the Ragin' Cajuns Invitational Friday afternoon.

The Cyclones (2-5) were held to just one hit through six innings by Louisiana-Lafayette hurler Holly Tankersley (4-1). Iowa State did touch the Ragin' Cajuns for two hits and three runs in the seventh.

The Ragin' Cajuns (8-1) took a quick lead on a Holly Tankersley 3-run homer in the top of the first inning. Tankersley's blast, her first of the season, scored Codi Runyan and Lacey Bertucci, who both had one-out singles off Cyclone hurler Alyssa Ransom.

Louisiana-Lafayette tacked on three more runs in the sixth inning. Meagan Godwin and Runyan each had run scoring singles and Vallie Gaspard scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-0.

The Cyclones made things interesting in the seventh, sending the tying run to the plate with one out.

Iowa State scored three runs in the inning, one of which came on Katie Reichling's double that scored Jennifer Bigbee, who walked to lead off the inning. Alex Johnson's groundout cut the deficit to four and an error by the Ragin' Cajuns allowed Reichling to score, marking the final margin, 6-3.

Tankersley finished the game 2-for-3 with three runs batted in to lead Louisiana-Lafayette. In the circle, she struck out five and held the Cyclones to two hits when she was in the game.

Freshman Courtney Wray went 1-for-2 for ISU in the loss. Reichling's seventh inning double leaves her just three hits shy of 100 for her career.

Ransom (1-3) was dealt the loss after allowing six runs on nine hits. The senior from Round Rock, Texas, struck out four in the game.

The Cyclones will face Mississippi (9 a.m.) and Big 12 foe Baylor (2 p.m.) Saturday.

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Players Mentioned

Jennifer Bigbee

Jennifer Bigbee

Alex Johnson

Alyssa Ransom

Alyssa Ransom

Katie Reichling

Katie Reichling

Courtney Wray

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