Iowa State Drops Two to No. 17 Oklahoma State in Monday Double-Header

AMES, Iowa -- The Iowa State softball team dropped both ends of a double header against No. 17 Oklahoma State Monday afternoon at the Southwest Athletic Complex. Oklahoma State claimed game one, 9-1, and secured the sweep with a 7-3 victory in game two. With the losses, ISU's record falls to 18-24 overall and 5-10 in Big 12 play. Senior Erica Martinez took the loss in game one, her record falling to 10-9. Freshman Kristen Karanzias got the loss in the second game, her record falling to 5-8. Oklahoma State pitcher Sarah Seagraves earned the win in game one, while Lauren Bay got the win in game two. OSU improved it's record to 34-9 overall and 12-3 in Big 12 play.

Iowa State got off to a rocky start right away with Oklahoma State's Stephanie Nicholson scored on a passed ball to make the score 1-0. OSU scored two more runs in the third inning before ISU got on the board in the bottom of the third inning. Martinez hit a double, which advanced senior Katie Ruby to third and scored junior Julia Lindsey. The Cowgirls went on to score three more runs in the fourth inning, two in the fifth and one more in the sixth inning to secure the 9-1 win. OSU had 11 hits, nine runs and two errors, compared to ISU's six hits, one run and four errors.

In game two, the two teams played more closely. Oklahoma State jumped onto the board right away in the first inning with three runs on two hits. Iowa State answered back with two runs in the second inning when sophomore Misty Kimura hit her second home run of the season and Kim Rodgers scored on the strength of a Julia Lindsey single. The Cyclones added another run, a Martinez run on a Cary Akins single, in the bottom of the third inning. The score was tied at 3-3 after three innings. The score would remain tied through the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Oklahoma State suddenly got the bats going again in the top of the seventh on the strength of a two-run single and a two-run home run. Iowa State would get no further and Oklahoma State won the second game, 7-3. ISU had 10 hits, three runs and one error compared to seven hits, seven runs and two errors for the Cowgirls.

Iowa State will return to the road on Wednesday, April 23, when it plays No. 5 Nebraska, starting at 4 p.m.