Gomez Ties Hits Record, Late ISU Rally Falls Short

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State came up a run short in its seventh inning rally, falling to Texas Tech 6-5 Sunday afternoon at the Cyclone Sports Complex. The loss dropped Iowa State to 26-25 on the season, 3-11 in Big 12 play. Texas Tech finishes its season at 25-26, 9-9 in the Big 12.

In defeat, Brittany Gomez tied Iowa State's career hits record with a single in the seventh inning. Aly Cappaert and Maddie Reese each hit home runs for ISU on the day. The Cyclones were 6-2 down heading into the bottom of the seventh, but left a runner on third during the comeback effort.

Tech Ahead Early, ISU Powers Ahead
Texas Tech got on the board right away in the top of the first. Jordan Bettiol led off the game with a base hit and was eventually brought home on an RBI-double to left by Kristi Belshe to get the Raiders ahead 1-0.

ISU did not waste any time getting going, as Aly Cappaert tied the game up with a solo home run to left-center in the bottom of the first to make it 1-1. The homer was Cappaert's ninth of the season and 25th of her Iowa State career. The Cyclones would pull ahead in the bottom of the third as Maddie Reese launched a solo homer to left to put Iowa State ahead 2-1. Reese picked up her 11th home run of the season, tied for the third-most in a season in school history.

Tech Gets Back Ahead
Iowa State starting pitcher Stacy Roggentien was very strong in the first four innings, capping off the fourth by striking out the side. However, things started to go south for her in the fifth. With runners on first and second and two outs, Kierra Miles got an RBI-single to tie things back up at 2-2. Ashley Fultz then got the go-ahead runs with a 2-RBI double to left to make it 4-2 Red Raiders.

Another run came in the sixth. After Jordan Bettiol drew a walk, Devon Thomey fired an RBI-double to right and make it 5-2. The Cyclones decided to turn to Brianna Weilbacher for the seventh, but she could not keep Tech off the board as well as pinch hitter Derryn Hebert got a single to right that scored Belshe, who reached on an earlier double.

The ISU Rally
Iowa State made a furious rally in the bottom of the seventh. Cathlin Bingham led off the inning with an infield single, which was followed by Gomez's school-record tying 216th career hit, a liner to left. Two batters, later Cappaert smashed one to center, but it hit high off the wall, meaning Bingham would just score on a long RBI-single to make it 6-3 Red Raiders. After Lexi Slater grounded out, Nychole Antillon fired a big, 2-RBI double to left-center to bring the game to one run.

Kelsey McFarland was next up and she hit a soft single to left, Antillon's pinch runner, Hayley Womack, was initially given the green light to come home, but was stopped at the last minute. Womack would not make it home, as Jorden Spendlove grounded out to second to end the game.

Gomez Record Watch
Brittany Gomez went 1-for-4 on the day, getting her 216th career hit, tied with Jenny Condon for the most in Iowa State history. The junior is now up to 75 hits on the year, two away from tying Condon's single-season record of 77 and three from breaking it. Gomez's season batting average is now .424, 11 points away from the school record of .435 by Mary Jo Collins in 1978.

On Deck
Iowa State will close the regular season next weekend at the Cyclone Sports Complex against Kansas. The three-game series starts on Friday at 4 p.m. with Saturday and Sunday games at noon.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Nychole Antillon

Cathlin Bingham

Aly Cappaert

Brittany Gomez

Kelsey McFarland

Maddie Reese

Stacy Roggentien

Lexi Slater

Jorden Spendlove

Brianna Weilbacher

Hayley Womack

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics