Cyclones Fall To Texas Tech, 4-3

AMES, Iowa ? Iowa State dropped a 4-3 decision to Texas Tech Sunday at the Southwest Athletic Complex, giving the Red Raiders a split with the Cyclones after ISU won 7-2 Saturday afternoon.

Iowa State (18-17, 1-3 Big 12) couldn't hold off a late Texas Tech (11-28, 1-6) offensive push that saw the Red Raiders score all four runs in the last three innings.

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Final Stats

Rachel Zabriske (11-12) took the loss for the Cyclones, giving up four runs on seven hits in making her third-straight start for the injury-plagued pitching staff.

“It's important for us, especially when we're throwing the same pitcher twice, to come out and be better the second day,” said ISU softball head coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler.

Alex Johnson opened the fourth inning with a two-run homer that gave the Cyclones the first points of the game. The home run was Johnson's fourth on the season and second in as many games.

Texas Tech got on the board in the fifth inning with Alex Watkins scoring on a Danielle Matthews' single to cut the Iowa State lead 2-1.

The Red Raiders weren't done as they went on to take the lead, 3-2, in the sixth inning on a Megan Shupp two-run home run.

Iowa State responded with a run in the bottom of the sixth on Sydni Jones' two-out single that plated Carleigh Berry. Jones single came after Johnson smashed a line drive that was speared by Tech's Elizabeth Eimen to double-up Courtney Wray at first base and spoil a two-on no-out beginning to the inning.

Texas Tech's winning run came in the top of the seventh as Leah Legler hit a sacrifice fly to score Skyler Peterson, who singled to lead off the inning.

Berry picked up her 15th stolen base of the season while also scoring twice and getting two hits on the day. Berry sits just three stolen bases shy of tying the single-season school record.

Gemeinhardt-Cesler said Berry's speed gives ISU a lot of options and makes the Cyclones difficult for the opposition to defend.

“Anytime she puts the ball on the ground she has a really good chance of getting on base. It gives us a lot of options if she can steal a base, then we can bunt her over to third.”

Texas Tech's pitcher Alex Watkins (2-9) allowed only three runs on five hits during the game. Watkins also had help offensively, scoring a run and getting two hits for the Red Raiders.

The Cyclones will return to action Tuesday when they play host to North Dakota State in a doubleheader at 2 p.m.

Texas Tech 4, Iowa State 3 (3-29-08 at Ames, Iowa)
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Texas Tech.......... 000 012 1 - 4 7 0 (11-28, 1-6 Big 12)
Iowa State.......... 000 201 0 - 3 5 1 (18-17, 1-3 Big 12)
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Pitchers: Texas Tech - Watkins, Alex. Iowa State - Zabriskie, Rachel.
Win-Watkins, Alex(2-9) Loss-Zabriskie, Rachel(11-12) T-1:54 A-178
HR TTU - Shupp, Megan (3).
HR IS - Johnson, Alex (4).

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Players Mentioned

Alex Johnson

Alex Johnson

Sydni Jones

Sydni Jones

Courtney Wray

Courtney Wray

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