Cowgirls Lose Conference Opener in Battle of Home Runs

Oklahoma State hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning, but Iowa State managed multi-run home runs in the first and sixth.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:17 pm

By: News On 6

Cowgirls Lose Conference Opener in Battle of Home Runs

Originally Published: Mar 26, 2011 5:29 PM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

AMES, Iowa -- The No. 18 Oklahoma State Cowgirls started Big 12 play with a loss Saturday, falling to the Iowa State Cyclones 4-3 in the opening game of a two-game series.

The Cyclones’ (15-8, 1-0) offense was hot from the start, leadoff hitter Heidi Kidwell went yard to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. The long-balls continued for Iowa State in the fourth when Tori Torrescano homered to left field to double lead.

Oklahoma State (27-7, 0-1) answered with a home run of its own in the top of the sixth.

Alysia Hamilton and Julie Ward started off the sixth inning with back-to-back singles, and in the next at-bat Chelsea Garcia homered to center field to give the Cowgirls a 3-2 advantage.

However, Iowa State once again went yard to retake the lead. In the second at-bat of the sixth, Dalyn Varela walked and two at-bats later Erica Miller sent one over the center field wall to take a 4-3 advantage.

Oklahoma State hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning, but Iowa State managed multi-run home runs in the first and sixth.

Rachel Zabriskie (9-4) was credited with the win for the outing, after pitching a complete game, allowing three earned runs on eight hits while striking out five. Oklahoma State ace Kat Espinosa (14-3) had a rare off day, allowing four earned runs on five hits and striking out six in the loss.

The Cowgirls will try to notch their first conference win at 1 p.m. Sunday.