Iowa State Rallies Past Baylor, 8-7

AMES, Iowa -- The Iowa State softball team scored three runs in the seventh inning and one more in the eighth inning to rally for an 8-7 extra-inning win over conference-foe Baylor, Saturday afternoon at the Southwest Athletic Complex. With Baylor leading 7-4 going into the bottom of the seventh, senior Katie Ruby hit a three-run homerun to tie the game at 7-7. Junior Julia Lindsey scored the game-winning run in the eighth inning. With the win, the Cyclones improve to 15-22 overall and 3-7 in Big 12 play. Baylor falls to 28-20 and 2-9 overall.

Freshman Kristen Karanzias recorded her fourth win of the season and pitched her second complete game. Karanzias struck out three Baylor batters on the day. Baylor relief pitcher picked up the loss for the Bears.

Baylor broke open a scoreless tie in the top of the third inning by scoring four runs on four hits and two Cyclone errors. In the bottom of the third, ISU scored one run. Sophomore Kim Rodgers walked to start and junior Ashley Core reached base on a fielder's choice and Rodgers advanced to third on a throwing error. Senior Erica Martinez, playing in her first game in nearly two weeks, hit her fourth double of the season, scoring Rodgers in the process.

Iowa State added one run in the fourth and fifth inning to make the score, 4-3, going into the sixth inning. Baylor scored two runs on three hits, while ISU added one run, an Akins run off a Rodgers double to start the seventh inning with Baylor ahead, 6-4.

The seventh inning was a wild one as the Bears added one more run as right fielder Sarah Caudle hit a solo home run to give BU a 7-4 lead. The Cyclones started out the seventh inning with one out right away as senior Adi Blackmon flied out to the catcher. Martinez was next and was hit by a pitch. Sophomore Lindsey Herrin hit a single to left field and advancing Martinez to third. After senior Molly McNertney fouled out, Ruby hit a tthree-run homerun to tie the score at 7-7.

In the eighth inning, Baylor ended the inning with no runs or hits and then it was ISU's turn. After already having two outs in the inning, Lindsey hit a single to right field. Blackmon walked, advancing Lindsey to second. Blackmon then advanced on a wild pitch, putting Lindsey on third. At that point, Baylor put starting pitcher, Katie Decker, back in the game, and intentionally walked Martinez, loading the bases in the process. Herrin reached first base on an error by Baylor's shortstop, scoring Lindsey and ending the game with Iowa State winning, 8-7.

"I was very proud of the effort we gave today," head coach Ruth Crowe said. "We didn't give up and kept ourselves in the game after going down 4-0 and rallied hard. Ruby's hit was incredible and of course, turned the game for us."

Martinez had two doubles on the day with two runs and two RBI. Ruby had two hits, one run and three RBI and Lindsey had two hits, one run and one RBI on the day.

Iowa State and Baylor will play the second game in the two-game series on Sunday, April 13, starting at 1 p.m., at the Southwest Athletic Complex.