Iowa State Falls to No. 22 Texas A&M, 9-1

AMES, Iowa – An Erica Miller home run was the only bright spot for the Iowa State on the day as the Cyclone pitching staff conceded five runs in the third and four in the sixth to fall to No. 22 Texas A&M 9-1 in six innings Sunday afternoon at the Southwest Athletic Complex. The loss drops Iowa State to 24-21 on the season and 2-7 in Big 12 play.

Kelsey Kidwell got the first hit of the game for ISU in the bottom of the first, reaching base on a single up the middle. She wouldn't advance past first as the next two Cyclone batters, Miller and Courtney Wray, both struck out swinging.

The Aggies made the first mark on the scoreboard in the top of the third. After leadoff hitter Lauren Schwirtlich reached on a throwing error by Amanda Bradberry. On a 1-0 pitch by Rachel Zabriskie, Aggie Sydney Shannon sent a home run well over the leftfield wall to give Texas A&M a 2-0 lead.

The Aggies added more in the third as Meagan May and Rhiannon Kliesing both reached base. After Alex Reynolds advanced both runners on a sacrifice bunt, Kelsey Spittler hit a home run just over the centerfield wall to increase the lead to 5-0.

Iowa State got its only run in the bottom of the fourth as Miller, jumped on the first pitch by Melissa Dumezich and hit it over the right-center field wall for her fourth home run of the season to reduce the deficit to 5-1. Sydni Jones then reached first on an infield single, but would also not advance past first as Alex Johnson and Bradberry both collected outs.

Iowa State's final hit of the game was recorded by Heidi Kidwell on a single through the right side of the infield.

A&M put more runs on the board in the sixth, singles by Kelsey Orsak and Schwirtlich and Shannon being hit by a pitch loaded the bases for May with no outs. The freshman hit a blop single off Lauren Kennewell into center field to make the score 6-1. The next batter, Kliesing, grounded to ISU first baseman Sydni Jones but her throw to home plate was not in time as the lead was increased to 7-1.

Spittler got her fourth and fifth RBI's of the game when her bases loaded double bounced off the top of the leftfield fence to make the score 9-1.

Zabriskie took the loss for Iowa State to fall to 19-13 on the season. The junior went 2.1 innings giving up five hits, five runs (four earned) and two walks while striking out four. Kennewell pitched in relief, going 3.2 innings, giving up five hits, four runs and three walks with two strikeouts.

Dumezich picked up the win for the Aggies, going all six innings allowing four hits, one walk and one run with four strikeouts to improve to 11-1 on the season.

Iowa State's next game is Tuesday when the Cyclones travel to Lincoln to face the Nebraska Cornhuskers. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Texas A&M 9, Iowa State 1 (4-18-2010 at Ames, Iowa)
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Texas A&M........... 005 004 - 9 10 1 (35-11, 6-4 Big 12)
Iowa State.......... 000 100 - 1 4 1 (24-21, 2-7 Big 12)
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Pitchers: Texas A&M - Dumezich, Melissa and May, Meagan. Iowa State - Zabriskie, Rachel; Kennewell, Lauren (3)and Johnson, Alex.
Win-Dumezich, Melissa(11-1) Loss-Zabriskie, Rachel(19-13) T-1:44 A-272
HR TAMU – Shannon, Sydney (4); Spittler, Kelsey (4). ISU – Miller, Erica (4).

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Players Mentioned

Amanda Bradberry

Amanda Bradberry

Alex Johnson

Alex Johnson

Sydni Jones

Sydni Jones

Lauren Kennewell

Lauren Kennewell

Heidi Kidwell

Heidi Kidwell

Kelsey Kidwell

Kelsey Kidwell

Erica Miller

Courtney Wray

Courtney Wray

Rachel Zabriskie

Rachel Zabriskie

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