AMES, Iowa – Sophomore Lexi Slater hit her first two home runs of the season and drove in five runs as Iowa State (16-19, 2-3 Big 12) defeated Oklahoma State (24-16, 2-3 Big 12) on Saturday, 8-6, giving Iowa State its first Big 12 series win since 2009.
Slater, who entered the weekend hitting .196, is 5-for-7 in two games against Oklahoma State this season, leading the Cyclones offense that has scored 17 runs against the Cowgirls heading into Sunday’s series finale. Slater’s five RBI on the weekend all came with two outs in Saturday’s contest.
Senior Tori Torrescano (8-8) was strong in the circle through the first six innings, allowing a single run on six hits despite walking six batters. In the seventh, Torrescano allowed three hits and walked two before being relieved by Riley Fisher. Fisher walked the two batters she faced before Torrescano re-entered to secure the win. Torrescano had one strikeout on the day.
Kat Espinosa (13-9) lost her second start of the weekend, giving up three runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out one. Iowa State scored its final five runs of the day, all unearned, against reliever Simone Freeman.
Ari Morrison gave the Cowgirls a 1-0 lead in the top of the first with a solo home run to left but, despite three walks from Torrescano to load the bases, Oklahoma State would not get another run across in the frame.
Slater drove in the tying run in the bottom of the second with an RBI-single to right field before putting the Cyclones up, 2-1, with a solo home run in the fourth.
Following Slater’s homer, Brittany Gomez and Sarah Hawryluk singled back-to-back, setting up Erica Miller’s RBI-single to put the home team up by two runs heading to the fifth.
Iowa State pulled away for good on Slater’s second homer of the day, a two-out, three-run shot, and Torrescano added a run with a steal of home in the sixth, followed by a sac fly from Sara Davison.
Oklahoma State’s second seventh inning comeback attempt of the weekend came up short once again as the Cowgirls scored five but were unable to tie or take the lead as the Cyclones held on for the win.
The teams play the final game of the season series at noon CDT on Sunday at the Cyclone Sports Complex.
