Cyclones Split on Final Day of Invitational

GAME ONE BOX (PDF) | GAME TWO BOX (PDF)

AMES, Iowa - Bianca Lopez went 4-for-4 with 4 RBI as the Cyclones (5-1, 0-0 Big 12) dropped Valparaiso (2-2, 0-0 Horizon League), 11-4 in the first of two games between the two teams. In the second game, pitching doomed the Cyclones as the Crusaders rolled to an 11-2 win in five innings.

Lopez's four-RBI effort was the first of the junior's career and the second time that she collected four hits.

The trend of the top of the Cyclone order stepping up continued in its first game against Valpo. After drawing a walk to leadoff the game, Heidi Kidwell stole her fifth base of the season. Lopez brought home Kidwell with an RBI single to make it 1-0. That quickly became 2-0 when Erica Miller bisected the left-centerfield gap for an RBI double.

Iowa State continued to bring in the runs in the second frame as it was Lopez again knocking a double down the leftfield line to bring home two runners. After Miller walked, Tori Torrescano broke the game open, sending a shot over the centerfield wall to make it 7-1 in favor of the Cyclones. It was her second home run of the season.

Iowa State put the result out of the Crusaders reach in the top of the seventh with RBI doubles from Kidwell and Lopez and an RBI single from Miller to make it 11-4.

Rachel Zabriskie picked up the win for Cyclones, improving to 2-0 on the season. The senior went the distance, allowing seven hits and four runs, three earned, while striking out 11. It was the tenth time in her career she has struck out double-figures.

In the weekend finale, pitcher Tori Torrescano struggled through two innings of work, giving up six runs, five earned, on four hits. Iowa State called on Lauren Kennewell to spell Torrescano at the top of the third but Kennewell had no better luck against a surging Cursaders offense. Kennewell secured only one out in the third and hit a batter with the bases loaded before surrendering a grand slam to Valpo's Jordan Rutkowski.

Freshman Breeanna Holliday finished the game, pitching 2 2/3 innings of no-run softball, giving up two hits and walking one.

Amandine Habben picked up the only two RBI for the Cyclones in game two, scoring Torrescano and Varela in the bottom of the fourth.

With the Indoor Invitational concluded, the Cyclones will travel to San Marcos, Texas for the CenturyLink Classic. Iowa State's first game is Friday, Feb. 18 against Texas State. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. CST.

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Players Mentioned

Amandine Habben

Amandine Habben

Breeanna Holliday

Lauren Kennewell

Lauren Kennewell

Heidi Kidwell

Heidi Kidwell

Erica Miller

Erica Miller

Tori Torrescano

Tori Torrescano

Rachel Zabriskie

Rachel Zabriskie

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