Cyclones Bounce Back With 3-1 Win Over USF

TUCSON, Ariz. ? Sophomore Kelsey Kidwell went 3-for-4 and freshman Rachel Zabriskie allowed just one run as Iowa State bounced back from a loss to No. 8 Arizona earlier in the day to defeat South Florida, 3-1, Friday night at the Hillenbrand Invitational. South Florida (8-7) out hit the Cyclones, nine to seven, but stranded eight runners in the losing effort. The Cyclones left 10 on base but were able to pick up the win because of timely hitting early in the contest.

Kidwell provided a spark for the Cyclones, tying a career high with three hits while scoring a run and driving in one. Alex Johnson and Ariel Coburn each drove in a run and Courtney Wray ran her hit streak to seven games with a seventh-inning single.

The Cyclones (12-2) put a pair of runs on the board in the first inning and followed with a single run in the second before riding the arm of Zabriskie to the win.

In the first, Johnson had a sacrifice fly and Coburn singled down the left field line to score Kristy Olsen. Kidwell, who scored on Johnson's sac fly earlier in the game, hustled down the line to beat out a two-out infield single to score Carrie Monroe and make it 3-1. The Bulls run came in the bottom of the first as Alison Savarese singled to plate Courtney Mosch.

After that it was a pitcher's duel as Zabriskie and USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year candidate Cristi Ecks kept their opponents off balance for the remainder of the game.

Zabriskie (6-1) struck out two and gave up nine hits but allowed just one run to earn the complete game victory. Ecks tossed four innings of scoreless ball in relief of Kristen Gordon (0-2), who allowed three runs on four hits.

Iowa State will continue action at the Hillenbrand Invitational Saturday with contests against No. 24 Virginia Tech (2 p.m. CT) and New Mexico State (9 p.m.).

Iowa State 3, South Florida 1 (Feb 29, 2008 at Tucson, Ariz.)
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Iowa State.......... 210 000 0 - 3 7 1 (12-2)
South Florida....... 100 000 0 - 1 9 1 (8-7)
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Pitchers: Iowa State - Zabriskie, Rachel. South Florida - GORDON, Kristen; ECKS, Cristi(4).
Win-Zabriskie, Rachel(6-1) Loss-GORDON, Kristen(0-2) T-1:56 A-100

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Players Mentioned

Ariel Coburn

Ariel Coburn

Alex Johnson

Alex Johnson

Kelsey Kidwell

Kelsey Kidwell

Carrie Monroe

Kristy Olsen

Kristy Olsen

Courtney Wray

Courtney Wray

Rachel Zabriskie

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