TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Iowa State (8-5, 0-0 Big 12) staged a dramatic seventh-inning comeback against St. John’s (3-9-1, 0-0 Big East), winning 11-9, on Friday before losing, 13-4 in six innings to No. 1 Alabama (17-0, 0-0 SEC).
Senior Tori Torrescano hit her third home run of the season, the 31st of her career, in Iowa State’s comeback win over the Red Storm and led the squad with three RBI. Through Friday’s first game, Torrescano had homered in three of Iowa State’s last four games.
Erica Miller and Sara Davison extended their five-game hitting streaks to six against St. John’s, Miller finished the contest with a 3-for-5 day at the plate, driving in two runs. Neither player had a hit in the loss to Alabama.
Trailing, 7-9, with two outs in the seventh against St. John’s, Sarah Hawryluk walked and advanced on a fielder’s choice by Brittany Gomez, leaving the Cyclones with runners on first and second with Miller coming to the plate. Miller’s second career triple plated both runners to tie the game before Torrescano’s bomb gave Iowa State its first lead since the third inning, 11-9.
Taylor Smith (3-1) returned to the circle in the bottom of the frame and, after walking the leadoff batter, got the first out on a fielder’s choice followed by a strikeout and a line out to end the game. Smith finished the day with three and one-third innings of work, giving up just three hits and one run while walking one and fanning two.
A two-run home run by Erin Burner in the first inning gave St. John’s the early 2-0 lead before Iowa State tied the score in the second on a triple by Lexi Slater and a groundout from Jorden Spendlove. An error by SJU plated Iowa State’s third run of the contest in the top of the third and Iowa State led, 3-2.
The Red Storm scored the next seven runs on the back of Burner’s second two-run shot of the game and a grand slam from Chrissy Montez but it was not enough as the Cyclones came back once again, scoring the game’s final four runs to ensure the win.
Ashley Beza (2-2) absorbed the loss for SJU, giving up four runs in one and two-third innings of relief. Beza allowed four hits, walked one and struck out two.
The Cyclones took a 4-3 lead over the top-ranked Tide in the bottom of the second inning on a Bama error and passed ball before a Maddie Reese RBI bunt single and sac fly from Miller to give Iowa State a 4-3 lead over the top-ranked Tide.
Alabama retook the lead with six runs in the third on one hit, five walks, a hit batsman, a fielder’s choice and a groundout. The Tide continued the scoring with a in the fifth and three in the sixth for the final 13-4 score.
Freshman Riley Fisher (1-3) took the loss for the Cyclones, giving up 13 runs, 10 earned on eight hits and nine walks while striking out three.
Leslie Jury (6-0) picked up the win, throwing a complete game and giving up four unearned runs on four hits, with four walks and four strikeouts.
On Saturday, Iowa State will play St. John’s at 11 a.m. CST and finish the weekend against the Tide at 4 p.m.
