AMES, Iowa -The Iowa State softball team is off to a 4-0 start in the 2014 season after picking up two more wins Sunday at the Cyclone Indoor Invitational at the Bergstrom Football Complex.
Iowa State started the day with a 4-1 win over South Dakota State and followed that with a 4-2 victory over Indiana State.
Power hitting ruled the day again as the Cyclones continued to hit the ball out of the park. Katie Johnson pitched two complete games for the second day running to up her record on the season to 4-0.
Iowa State 4, South Dakota State 1
Play of the Game
After pitching two complete games, including her first career shutout on Saturday, any concerns about how Katie Johnson would hold up from tossing more pitches were put away very quickly.
Johnson dominated proceedings in the first by striking out the side of Mikayla Akers, Emily Utech and Elyse Eitel. The Cyclones manufactured three runs in the bottom of the first to give ISU control throughout.
Player of the Game
Katie Johnson. Though she did concede a run, it could be argued her performance in this game was better than in her shutout yesterday. Johnson finished the game with seven innings pitched, allowing four hits and an earned run with no walks and striking out a career-high 10 batters.
Johnson became the third freshman pitcher in school history to strike out 10, joining Jen Bice (11, 2000) and Rachel Zabriskie (10, 2008).
Iowa State 4, Indiana State 2
Play of the Game
Iowa State fell into a 1-0 hole heading into the bottom of the second inning. With one out, Rachel Hartman got on base with a single and that was followed up by a single from Jorden Spendlove.
With two on and one out, Sara Rice stepped up and bombed a three-run home run to right-center field to give Iowa State a 3-1 lead.
Later on, Rachel Hartman hit her second home run of the season with a big fly to center field to give the Cyclones a needed insurance run at 4-2.
Player of the Game
Rachel Hartman. The freshman catcher continues to impress and she was strong again Sunday as she hit her second home run of the season to give ISU the 4-2 edge.
She also showed off her impressive arm as she ended a fifth inning rally by catching Morgan Allee stealing.
On Deck
Iowa State will take its first road trip of the season next weekend to the Troy Cox Classic in Las Cruces, N.M. The tournament starts Friday night with a doubleheader against New Mexico State and Weber State starting at 7 p.m. CDT.
