Homers Not Enough against No. 24 Red Raiders

STATS

AMES, Iowa - Iowa State and Texas Tech lit up the scoreboard Saturday at the Southwest Athletic Complex with a combined 20 runs and 23 hits as the Cyclones fell to the No. 24 Red Raiders 15-5. The Cyclones' record drops to 17-16 overall on the year and 1-4 in Big 12 play while Tech improves to 37-6 overall and 2-5 in conference competition.

Down 11-0 going into the bottom of the fifth, the Cyclones put together a rally to ensure the run rule would not go into effect. Cassie Knutson started the inning off by posting her first career home run and RBI with a big fly over the leftfield wall to make the score 11-1. After Dalyn Varela drew a walk, Erica Miller sent a home run over the right field wall to reduce the deficit to 11-3. Erin Johnson ensured the game would go on with a bloop single to right field to make it 11-4. Katie Harms brought home another run on a fielder's choice to make the game an 11-5 affair.

Texas Tech got the marks on the board in the top of the first as Sandy James took a Rachel Zabriskie pitch over the right field wall for a three-run home run and a 3-0 Red Raider lead. It was her 13th home run of the season.

Iowa State's first chance to get into the game came in the bottom of the third as Heidi Kidwell and Sara Davison picked up singles while Miller drew a walk to load the bases but the Red Raiders were able to escape the inning as Tori Torrescano flew out to the shortstop.

Holly Gentsch and James, with her three-run shot in the first, were the forces for Texas Tech throughout the game. Gentsch finished the game 3-for-4 with her first home run of the season, a three-run shot over the leftfield wall. Five other Red Raiders added RBIs for the visitors on the day en route to scoring against each of the four Cyclone pitchers.

Kelsey Dennis picked up the win for Texas Tech to improve to 12-1 on the year. Dennis pitched four innings, allowing eight hits and three runs while striking out one. Kemitria Ward gave up two runs in her two innings of work and Ashley Brokeshoulder worked a scoreless seventh.

Zabriskie took the loss for Iowa State, dropping to 11-10 on the season. She went three-and-two-thirds, allowing four hits and eight runs, five earned, while striking out one. Following Zabriskie were Lauren Kennewell who got two outs and gave up three runs before Torrescano switched over from designated player to pitch an inning and two thirds, giving up two runs. Bree Holliday was the final pitcher for Iowa State. Holliday gave up three runs and two hits in the seventh inning.

The Cyclones and the Red Raiders will meet again tomorrow, with first pitch slated for 11 a.m. CDT.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Sara Davison

Katie Harms

Katie Harms

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

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics