Slater, Miller Homer In Losses To No. 14 Aggies

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AMES, Iowa - Freshman Lexi Slater hit her fifth home run of the season in game one of Friday's doubleheader and junior Erica Miller added her fifth of the season in game two as Iowa State (11-24, 0-8 Big 12) dropped both games against No. 14 Texas A&M (27-10, 7-2 Big 12), 6-1 and 11-3, Friday afternoon at the Southwest Athletic Complex.

Down 3-0 going into the bottom of the third, Slater got Iowa State onto the board with a solo home run that went comfortably over the right field wall to reduce the Cyclone deficit to 3-1. The shot was Slater's fifth of the season and her first since Iowa State's win over Brown back on March 4.

The Cyclones had momentum and opportunities to get into the game in the bottom of the fourth. Sara Davison started off the inning and Erica Miller reached based on an infield single. However, the Cyclones could not capitalize as Tori Torrescano lined out to short, Sara Rice popped up to Aggie pitcher Mel Dumezich and the Aggie hurler struck out Dalyn Varela to close out the inning.

Texas A&M added a couple more in the top of the sixth. Meagan May brought home a run on a single to center and Cassie Tysarczyk added a second on a groundout to put the Aggies up 5-1.

Texas A&M posted the first two runs of the game in the top of the first. Tori Torrescano (6-16) walked the Aggie catcher May on four-pitches. Torrescano got Tysarczyk on a 1-2 count before the right fielder hit a drive that stayed inside the right field foul pole to put A&M up 2-0.

The Aggies posted another run in the top of the third as Nicole Morgan took a 2-2 pitch deep over the left-centerfield wall to give Texas A&M a 3-0 advantage.

Dumezich (18-7) threw all seven innings, allowing four hits and one earned run on Slater's home run while striking out 10. Torrescano took the loss for the Cyclones after pitching six innings, allowing five runs on eight hits and six walks while striking out two Aggies.

Trying to avoid the shutout going into the final frame of game two, the Cyclone offense got going with Jennifer Drahozal's one-out walk. After the second out, Sara Davison got on base with a single. Miller's shot off A&M pitcher Lauren Ainsley went comfortably over the leftfield wall to reduce the deficit to 11-3. It was Miller's sixth home run of the season and the 24th of her career, tying her for third in Iowa State history with Torrescano.

Miller, Davison and Dalyn Varela each posted two-hits on the game. Kayla Hardiman added a base knock to the Cyclone cause as well.

The Aggies put the first run on the board in the top of the second inning. The Aggies got runners on first and second with one out when Brittany Walker hit a very sharp grounder at Davison. The Cyclone second baseman got a glove to it but could not contain it as the ball floated in the air, allowing Dumezich to touch home while the runners advanced to second and third.

The Cyclones did end the inning on a brilliant double play started by Varela as she stabbed a grounder by Orsak, tagged the runner at third and got the ball across the diamond to Miller at first on time.

The Aggies added a second run in the top of the fourth as Nicole Morgan took a 1-1 count over the wall in centerfield as it just eluded the reach of Drahozal to put Texas A&M ahead, 2-0.

A&M took control of the game in the top of the fifth. Brittany Walker and Orsak got singles and Nicole Villarreal drew a walk. After getting the lead runner on a fielder's choice, May drove in Orsak and Villarreal on a single to put the lead at 4-0. The Aggies added additional runs on a Tysarczyk groundout and a Morgan single.

Dumezich (19-7) picked up her second win of the day, throwing four innings, allowing four hits while striking out six. Lauren Ainsley threw the final three innings, allowing three hits and three runs. Ainsley added a grand slam in the top of the seventh to support her own cause.

Taylor Smith (3-2) was tagged with the loss. The sophomore pitched five innings, allowing eight hits and six runs.

The three-game series wraps up Saturday afternoon at noon CST.

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Players Mentioned

Sara Davison

Sara Davison

Jennifer Drahozal

Jennifer Drahozal

Kayla Hardiman

Erica Miller

Erica Miller

Sara Rice

Sara Rice

Lexi Slater

Taylor Smith

Tori Torrescano

Tori Torrescano

Dalyn Varela

Dalyn Varela

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