Cyclones Fall In Extra Innings To Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. ? Dannie Skrove hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning as Minnesota rallied to defeat Iowa State, 6-5, in extra innings Friday at the Metrodome Softball Classic. The Cyclones fall to 1-1 this season after defeating Drake in the opener earlier in the day.

Minnesota (2-1) took the lead in the first on an RBI groundout by Malisa Barnes that plated Allie Siu, who tripled off ISU freshman Tori Torrescano to lead off the inning. A two-run homer by Alex Davis extended the Gopher lead to 3-0. Davis' first career homer drove in Sammie Howard, who reached on a fielding error by Torrescano.

The Cyclones finally got to Minnesota hurler Lacey Middlebrooks with a four-run top of the fourth inning. Jones got things started with a one-out single and advanced to second on Bradberry's infield hit.

On the seventh pitch of the next at bat, Carrie Monroe singled to right field to score Jones. Berry then roped a triple to left to score Bradberry and Monroe to tie it at 3-3. ISU then got tricky as Heidi Kidwell laid down the perfect two-out bunt and Berry came in to score on the squeeze play, giving the Cyclones their first lead of the game.

After a scoreless bottom of the fourth, Johnson belted her first homer of the season, a leadoff shot to centerfield, to increase the Cyclone lead to 5-3. The long ball was the 19th career homer for Johnson, who moved into a tie for second all-time at ISU with Ashley Killeen.

The Gophers got a run back in their half of the sixth as Skrove homered off Rachel Zabriskie to make it 5-4 Cyclones. The next hitter, Siu, singled but was stranded at second as Zabriskie got the next two batters to ground out.

In the seventh it was again Alex Davis who hurt the Cyclones with her second home run of the game, this one off Zabriskie, that tied it at 5-5.

ISU went down without scoring in the top of the eighth, failing to take advantage of the international tie breaker that placed Jones at second to start the inning.

The Gophers didn't miss their opportunity, getting a sacrifice fly from Skrove that plated Aubrey Davis to give the Gophers the win.

Zabriskie (1-1) took the loss for the Cyclones, allowing three runs on four hits in 3.2 innings of work. Zabriskie struck out five in relief of Torrescano, who allowed three runs on three hits in her debut with Iowa State.

Middlebrooks (2-0) got the win for Minnesota, going the distance and allowing five runs on 10 Iowa State hits.

Heidi Kidwell had three hits for the Cyclones, while Jones and Bradberry finished with two each for ISU.

The Cyclones will play two more Saturday, facing Western Illinois at 11 a.m. and Iowa at 5 p.m.

Minnesota 6, Iowa State 5 (2-12-2010 at Minneapolis, Minn.)
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Iowa State.......... 000 410 00 - 5 10 1 (1-1)
Minnesota........... 300 001 11 - 6 7 0 (2-1)
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Pitchers: Iowa State - Torrescano, Tori; Zabriskie, Rachel(4) and Johnson, Alex. Minnesota -
Middlebrooks, Lacey and Dorle, Kari.
Win-Middlebrooks, Lacey(2-0) Loss-Zabriskie, Rachel(1-1) T-2:17 hrs A-0
HR IS - Johnson, Alex (1).
HR MINN - Davis, Alex 2 (2); Skrove, Dannie (1).

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Players Mentioned

Heidi Kidwell

Heidi Kidwell

Carrie Monroe

Carrie Monroe

Tori Torrescano

Rachel Zabriskie

Rachel Zabriskie

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