First Inning Homer Lifts NDSU Past ISU, 3-1

FARGO, N.D. ? A first inning home run by North Dakota State's Melissa Chmielewski proved to be the difference as Iowa State dropped a 3-1 decision to the Bison Sunday afternoon at the Miken Dome Tournament.

Chmielewski's blast off ISU pitcher Rachel Zabriskie (2-1) was all the scoring the Bison (4-1) would need as reigning Division I Independent Pitcher of the Year Allison Bakke (2-1) held the Cyclones (3-1) to just one run on five hits.

The Bison, who were the visiting team in the game despite playing at home, took advantage of a one-out walk by Zabriskie to Elisa Victa. After the free pass, Kelly Cantrell singled before Chmielewski lifted Zabriskie's 2-2 pitch over the left field wall to give NDSU a 3-0 lead.

The Cyclones got a run back in their half of the first as Kelsey Kidwell led off with a triple and scored on Carleigh Berry's first career hit, an infield single, to cut the NDSU lead to 3-1.

That was all the scoring for the game as Zabriskie and Bakke put it on cruise control. Each pitcher allowed just three more hits through the next six innings. Zabriskie fanned six Bison batters and Bakke notched seven strikeouts in the contest.

Ariel Coburn, Courtney Wray and Jacquelyn Beatty joined Kidwell and Berry with hits for the Cyclones while Cantrell and Chmielewski finished with two each for North Dakota State.

Iowa State had four players on the all-tournament team led by Zabriskie who hurled a no-hitter in her first collegiate start Saturday against UW-Green Bay. Kidwell was also on the team after hitting .417 on the weekend while Ariel Coburn and Amanda Bradberry rounded out the ISU representatives on the team.

Iowa State will be back in action on Friday when it travels to Monroe, La., for the Mardi Gras Classic. The Cyclones will face Central Arkansas on Friday at 5:30 p.m.

North Dakota State 3, Iowa State 1 (Feb 10, 2008 at Fargo, ND)
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North Dakota State.. 300 000 0 - 3 5 1 (4-1)
Iowa State................100 000 0 - 1 5 0 (3-1)
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Pitchers: North Dakota State - Allison Bakke. Iowa State - Zabriskie, Rachel.
Win-Allison Bakke(2-1) Loss-Zabriskie, Rachel(2-1) T-1:54 A-223
HR NDSU - Melissa Chmielewski (2).

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Players Mentioned

Jacquelyn Beatty

Amanda Bradberry

Amanda Bradberry

Ariel Coburn

Ariel Coburn

Kelsey Kidwell

Kelsey Kidwell

Courtney Wray

Courtney Wray

Rachel Zabriskie

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