The ISU softball team finally got its first conference win of the season with its upset 2-1 victory against No. 14 Texas A&M.

Junior pitcher Tori Torrescano began the day for the Cyclones (12-24, 1-8 Big 12) to avoid being swept by their second straight conference opponent in the winning effort against the Aggies (27-11, 7-3).

“I think with Tori, it’s there,” said coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler. “If Tori struggles, she’s her own worst enemy. She just needs to come out every day and realize she’s capable of throwing well all the time.”

Torrescano turned in perhaps the best pitching performance of the season, having pitched all seven innings, allowing only three hits and one run for her fourth complete game of the season.

“I came out and tried not to think about anything really,” Torrescano said. “I was hitting good spots and keeping the ball down for the most part. Good things happen when you keep the ball in the park.”

Iowa State took an early 1-0 lead from a walk that scored a run in the first. A&M quickly answered, though, off an RBI double from first basemen Kelsea Orsak in the top of the third to even the game at 1-1.

The game was tied going into the bottom of the fifth inning, when designated player Sara Rice was able to hit an RBI double that scored a run to put Iowa State ahead 2-1.

“I knew working the count, we had seen her for two days in a row and so I felt a little more comfortable at the plate,” Rice said. “As soon as I hit it, I couldn’t help but get a little smile on my face. It felt good to see my teammate cross the plate.”

With a 2-1 lead going into the seventh inning, Torrescano was able to get A&M’s left fielder Emily Albus to ground out to secure the victory for the Cyclones.

The win marks Iowa State’s first against a top-15 opponent since 2009 and its first win at home against a top-15 opponent since 2006.

“I know everyone was a little bit pissed about the second game [on Friday] and how it got out of hand,” Torrescano said. “We had been with them the whole game, so I think a lot of people took from it that we had played right with them, and today we were firing on all cylinders.”

The Cyclones will try to continue their momentum when they travel to Des Moines to face Drake on Tuesday. Action is set to begin at 4 p.m.