Softball Falls Short in Series Opener to Iowa State

Friday, April 20

Lubbock, TX

3 PM

Texas Tech Athletics

21-23, 0

Iowa State

20-24, 0

Iowa State

Texas Tech

Softball Falls Short in Series Opener to Iowa State

April 20, 2018 | Softball

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Hamilton smokes her fifth triple of the year to set a new single-season school record.

By: Ty Parker, Texas Tech Athletics Communications

LUBBOCK, Texas – The Texas Tech softball team battled back from an early 3-0 deficit, but came up short in a 5-3 defeat to Iowa State on a gusty Friday afternoon at Rocky Johnson Field.

In a series opener that was pushed up due to forecasted weather conditions, the Red Raiders (21-23, 1-12) battled out of a 3-0 hole with two runs in the bottom of the second and trailed by just a run through six.

In the seventh, the Cyclones (20-24, 2-8) scored two runs to extend their lead to 5-2. Tech didn't go down quietly as redshirt sophomore Karli Hamilton hit an RBI double to cut the lead to two, and a two-out walk put the tying run aboard. Cyclone starter Emma Hylen (9-9), however, closed out her 10^th complete game of the year with a strikeout to give ISU the win.

Hamilton finished 2-for-4 on the day with the double and RBI as well as her fifth triple of the season to set a new school record for most triples in a season. The Houston native has hit safely in five straight games and eight of her last 10 overall.

Redshirt freshman Heaven Burton matched her career-high in hits with three on the day. Friday marks the fifth time this season the Round Rock, Texas, product has recorded three hits in a game and the second time in the last two weeks.

Freshman Breanna Russell knocked in two runs for the Red Raiders. She stroked a double into right center in the second inning that put Tech on the board and cut ISU's lead to 3-2. It marked her sixth double of the season and raised her RBI total to 20.

Sophomore Kassidy Scott threw five strong innings in relief, giving up just two runs on six hits with three strikeouts and a walk. Freshman Erin Edmoundson (13-10) received the loss in two full innings of work.

Cyclones Sami Williams and Nychole Antillon recorded multi-hit games. The Cyclone lineup proved potent throughout with seven players tallying hits. The Red Raiders, however, outhit ISU 10-9 and move to 18-6 when outhitting their opponent.

The loss ends a six-game winning stream for the Red Raiders against the Cyclones dating back to 2016. Head coach Adrian Gregory moves to 8-3 all-time against Iowa State.

Game two of the series is slated for a 4 p.m. start on Saturday on Girl Scouts Night at Rocky Johnson Field. For the latest on all things Texas Tech softball, follow @TexasTechSB on Twitter and go online to www.TexasTech.com.