Cyclones Take Game One At Texas Tech, 8-6

LUBBOCK, Texas – A six-run sixth inning broke things open for the Iowa State softball team (18-24, 1-6 Big 12) in Lubbock on Friday night, as the Cyclones defeated Texas Tech, 8-6. It marks the first Big 12 victory of the season for the Cyclones, and ISU's third-straight win overall.

Iowa State 8, Texas Tech 6
The opening two innings of the game yielded no runs and just one hit between the two teams, in a slow start that would not be indicative of the game's pace overall. The Cyclones were first on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning, led-off by a Hope Scheffert walk to begin the frame. The junior was then moved over to third by Sally Woolpert and Brittany Gomez. With two outs, Cathlin Bingham smacked an RBI single to left to bring Scheffert home, and Iowa State led 1-0.

Texas Tech responded in the home half of the fourth inning with a run of their own on an RBI double from Kirsten Schwirtlich to tie the game at 1-1. The teams then traded runs in the fifth inning, including an RBI single from Aly Cappaert. After Gomez reached on an error and was moved over to third, the speedy senior raced home on Cappaert's hit to give the Cyclones a brief 2-1 advantage. The Red Raiders once again knotted things at 2-2 in the ensuing frame.

The Cyclone offense then exploded for six runs in the top of the sixth inning. Kirsten Caudle got things going, as she hung in the batters' box and was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and was later moved over to second. Scheffert reached on a TTU error, and Caudle rounded third and raced home to regain the lead.

Bingham and Cappaert later recorded back-to-back RBI singles, to extend the ISU advantage to 5-2. Kelsey McFarland then stepped to the plate and, with a 1-1 count, launched a monster home run to left center, giving the Cyclones an 8-2 lead. It was the sophomore's eighth home run of the season, and proved to be the deciding moment of the contest.

Texas Tech mounted a response in the home half of the inning, courtesy of a two-run home run to center off the bat of Susan Welborn, cutting the deficit to 8-4. The Red Raiders added two additional runs in the final frame, but the Cyclones closed it out on defense.

Savannah Sanders got the win for the Cyclones, going 6.1 innings, while giving up six runs on nine hits, with two strikeouts. Fellow freshman Emma Hylen recorded her fourth save of the season, closing the deal with the final two outs of the game.

Cyclone of the Game
Kelsey McFarland. Coming off the first multi-home run game of her career vs. South Dakota, the sophomore stayed hot at the plate in game one vs. Texas Tech. McFarland was one of four Cyclones with multiple hits, going 2-of-4 at the plate, including the three-run homer in the sixth that helped lift Iowa State to victory.

On Deck
The Cyclones and Red Raiders are set to face-off again on Saturday for game two of their three-game series. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. at Rocky Johnson Field.

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Players Mentioned

Cathlin Bingham

Aly Cappaert

Kirsten Caudle

Brittany Gomez

Emma Hylen

Kelsey McFarland

Savannah Sanders

Hope Scheffert

Sally Woolpert

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics