Torrescano Slams Home Win

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AMES, Iowa - Cyclone sophomore Tori Torrescano capped a five-run seventh inning for Iowa State (19-17, 1-5 Big 12) with a walk-off grand slam to give the Cyclones a dramatic 8-6 win over the Drake Bulldogs (24-15, 10-1 Missouri Valley) Thursday at the Southwest Athletic Complex. The home run was Torrescano's first career grand slam and her second walk-off homer in nine days.

Down 6-3 going into the bottom of the seventh, Iowa State got down to business with singles by Heidi Kidwell, Sara Davison and Dalyn Varela to load the bases with only one out. Erica Miller brought home the first run with a single past the shortstop to make it 6-4. Torrescano then had her moment in the spotlight with her game-capping home run, her eighth homer in 2011. On the afternoon, Torrescano went 3-for-4 and finished a triple shy of the cycle.

Kidwell also had a distinguished day at the plate, going 4-for-4 with four singles and two runs. It marked the fourth four-hit game of the season for the junior. Davison tied a career-high with her two hits on the day.

Iowa State posted its first runs in the bottom of the fourth, trailing 5-0, with Torrescano getting on base with a two-out double. Anna Cole picked up a two-out double of her own during the next at-bat to reduce the deficit to 5-1. After an Erin Johnson walk, Cassie Knutson continued the rally with a single that brought home Cole to pull within three.

Iowa State posted another run in the bottom of the fifth when Kidwell and Davison reached on singles and Varela to load the bases with no outs. Miller grounded into a double-play but allowed Kidwell to come home from third to make it 5-3.

Drake got on the board first in the top of the second. Molly McClelland and Lindsey Vande Wall both singled before Jordan Gronewold cleared the bases with a three-run homer to right field to give the Bulldogs an early 3-0 advantage.

Gronewold posted two more runs in the top of the fourth with a four-bagger to leftfield to increase the Drake lead to 5-0.

Up 5-3 going into the top of the seventh, Erin Mollohan hit the Bulldogs' second home run of the game, a shot to right field to secure Drake a 6-3 advantage.

Lauren Kennewell picked up the win in relief for Iowa State, improving to 2-2 on the year. Kennewell went 3.2 innings, allowing seven hits and one run while striking out one. Rachel Zabriskie started the game for the Cyclones, going 3.1 innings, allowing three hits and five runs while striking out two.

Brynne Dordel picked up the loss for Drake to drop to 10-9 on the year. Dordel pitched 2.2 innings, allowing seven hits and six runs. Gronewold pitched 3.2 innings in her start, allowing six hits and two runs while making her biggest contributions at the plate, going 3-for-3 with the two home runs, a double and five RBIs.

The Cyclones return to Big 12 play this weekend as they travel to Austin, Texas for a pair of games against No. 3 Texas. The first game is slated for Saturday at 1 p.m. CDT while the second game will be Sunday at noon.

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Players Mentioned

Anna Cole

Sara Davison

Erin Johnson

Lauren Kennewell

Lauren Kennewell

Heidi Kidwell

Heidi Kidwell

Cassie Knutson

Erica Miller

Erica Miller

Tori Torrescano

Tori Torrescano

Dalyn Varela

Dalyn Varela

Rachel Zabriskie

Rachel Zabriskie

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