A brief glance at the ISU softball record books reveals Rachel Zabriskie’s name etched atop nearly every pitching category.

However, her performance against Minnesota on Thursday placed her in the pantheon among the Big 12 elite. Zabriskie struck out nine Gopher batters, elevating her career total to 764. With this number, Zabriskie now stands 10th all time in the conference.

“I knew that I was getting close, but I wouldn’t say I was gunning for it,” Zabriskie said. “But now that I have it, it’s some weight off my shoulders.”

Despite the team’s loss to the Gophers, Zabriskie pitched all 10 innings of the overtime thriller, only allowing one run. 

Zabriskie has been a force since stepping foot in Ames. She holds the school record for single season and career strikeouts, career wins and innings pitched. She set the bar for career totals in strikeouts and wins in just three seasons at Iowa State. 

Courtney Dully, ace for the Cyclones in the mid-1990s, is second on the school’s all-time strike out list with 495, nearly 300 less than Zabriskie.

Stading at ninth, Zabriskie is poised to maintain her place among the Big 12’s greatest. She is the only active pitcher on the list and stands 81 K’s away from eighth place. The top spot belongs to former University of Texas great Cat Osterman, who fanned a mind boggling 2,265 batters in her career.

Zabriskie said she was honored to be in that elite company.

“It’s nice to know that I’m on that list,” Zabriskie said. “It’s really nice to know that I’m on that list and made an impact not only for my team but also the Big 12.”

With a bulk of rivalry and conference games on the horizon, the Cyclones will be looking to their strike out stalwart for guidance from the mound. 

A seven strike out per start average Zabriskie not only gives the team a chance for success, but will almost inevitably cement her place in school and conference history.