Iowa State Falls to No. 14 Iowa in Extra Innings

AMES, Iowa - The Iowa State softball team fell to No. 14 Iowa, 4-3 in eight innings Wednesday at the Southwest Athletic Complex. Former Ankeny prep Michelle Junod was 2-of-4 at the plate with one RBI for the Cyclones.

Alicia Gerlach hit a solo home run in the top of the second to give the Hawkeyes a 1-0 lead. ISU bounced back scoring two runs in the bottom of the third. Laura Browning led off the inning with a single. Jessica Polo reached on a fielder's choice as Browning reached second on an error by Hawkeye second baseman Katie Boney. Browning advanced to third and Polo advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kimi Yoshizawa. Browning scored on a Lisa Frank bunt to tie the game, 1-1. Pinch runner Adi Blackmon scored on a Junod single to give ISU a 2-1 advantage.

Iowa tied the game in the top of the fourth. Gerlach led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kelly Zeilstra. Shaina Barnes came into pinch run for Gerlach and scored on a Kristi Hanks RBI single.

The Hawks expanded the lead scoring two runs in the top of the eighth. Kristin Johnson reached on an error. Gerlach hit her second home run of the day to give Iowa a 4-2 lead.

The Cyclones rallied back in the bottom of the eighth as Lauren Cathey doubled to left center. Amy Crittendon pinch ran for Cathey and advanced to third on a double by Amberly Lessenger. A sacrifice fly by Browning scored Crittendon to make it, 4-3. Iowa State's rally fell short as Jill Hlavacek struck out to end the game.

Junod was 2-of-3 with one RBI and Browning went 1-of-3 at the plate with one RBI. Erica Martinez, Cathey and Browning each contributed one hit a piece. Senior hurler Mandy Loushin (1-6) allowed four runs on nine hits striking out three.

Iowa State is 15-25 overall and 3-12 in the Big 12. The Cyclones return to action at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Southwest Athletic Complex when they play host to Drake.

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