Homers Propel ISU Past Western Illinois, 4-1

AMES, Iowa ? Iowa State hit three homers and Amie Ford scattered five hits as the Cyclones defeated Western Illinois, 4-1, in their home opener on Tuesday afternoon at the Southwest Athletic Complex. It marked the first time in 75 games that ISU has hit three home runs in a single game.

The Cyclones (21-11) trailed the Westerwinds (3-15) 1-0 until Courtney Wray belted her second homer of the season. Wray's shot, a solo shot to right center, tied it up at 1-1.

The Cyclones weren't finished with the long ball as Sara Stinson hit a solo homer for her first career hit. Stinson's homer was also off Western Illinois starter Courtney Jacobson and cleared the left field wall to lead off the fifth.

Alex Johnson doubled to right center to lead off the sixth and came around to score on Jacquelyn Beatty's second homer of the season on the very next pitch.

Charissa Carlin came in and retired the side in order in the seventh to pick up her first save of the season. Ford (4-3) got the win for the Cyclones, striking out three and walking just one to go along with five hits allowed.

Jacobson (1-4) took the loss for the Westerwinds, allowing four runs on eight hits. Colleen Biebel tossed a hitless inning in relief.

Wray finished 2-for-3 with a stolen base while six other Cyclones collected hits. Johnson and Kristy Olsen also had stolen bases in the win.

First baseman Samantha Valentine collected two hits for Western Illinois while Julie DePolo had the lone RBI, driving in Valentine with a run-scoring single in the first.

Iowa State 4, Western Illinois 1 (3-25-2008 at Ames, Iowa) (Game 1)
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Western Illinois.... 100 000 0 - 1 5 1 (3-15)
Iowa State.......... 001 012 X - 4 8 0 (21-11)
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Pitchers: Western Illinois - Jacobson, Courtney; Biebel, Colleen(6). Iowa State - Ford, Amie;
Carlin, Charissa(7).
Win-Ford, Amie(4-3) Save-Carlin, Charissa(1) Loss-Jacobson, Courtney(1-4) T-1:22 A-0
HR IS - Wray, Courtney (2); Beatty, Jacquelyn (3); Stinson, Sara (1).
Jacobson faced 2 batters in the 6th.

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Players Mentioned

Jacquelyn Beatty

Charissa Carlin

Charissa Carlin

Amie Ford

Amie Ford

Alex Johnson

Alex Johnson

Kristy Olsen

Kristy Olsen

Sara Stinson

Courtney Wray

Courtney Wray

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