The ISU softball team (19-23, 4-7 Big 12) fell to Texas Tech on Saturday, April 20, 2013 by a score of 6-4. The loss snapped a 5-0 start at the new facility this season.

The Red Raiders (28-21, 2-9) jumped out to an early lead on Cyclone pitcher Riley Fisher in the first inning. Texas Tech rightfielder Katelyn Williams hit a three run home run with no outs, and that would be the end of the day for Fisher.

Sophomore pitcher Taylor Smith came in for relief in the first inning.  She would pitch the remainder of the game allowing no earned runs.

“We just didn’t catch the right breaks today,” Smith said. “It is good to know that I can go out and pitch six solid innings like that though.”

Tori Torrescano’s RBI single in the bottom of the first inning was the only offense the Cyclones would get until the late rally attempt in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Both teams would see little offensive production in innings two through five, before Texas Tech added another three runs in the top of the sixth inning to increase their lead.

Trailing 6-1 heading into the last half of the seventh, the Cyclones would score 3 runs but see their rally fall just short.

ISU shortstop Lexi Slater led the spurt with her third home run of the season. TTU third basemen Adriana Perez committed two errors to allow Brittany Gomez and Maddie Reese to cross home plate but that would be it for the Cyclones.

“We need to have better at-bats tomorrow,” said ISU coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler. “We know what she’s [Custer] going to throw tomorrow. We’ll have to attack pitches earlier, and cannot afford to have so many scoreless innings like today.”

The teams will play the series finale on Sunday with a first pitch scheduled for noon at the Cyclone Sports Complex.