Cyclone softball pitcher Rachel Zabriskie is moving closer to becoming a part of Big 12 softball history.

Zabriskie, a senior from Austin, Texas, is 39 strikeouts away from moving into the top 10 all-time strikeout leaders in conference history.

“She’s a great competitor and leader. She is the definition of Iowa State softball,” said ISU coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler. “Rachel always gives us a great opportunity to win games. She has worked extremely hard.”

Zabriskie, who has an 8-4 record on the season, has already set the school record for strikeouts in a career by a wide margin, with 720 to her name. Courtney Dully (1994-’97) is second all-time at Iowa State with 495 strikeouts.

“I don’t think about it while I’m pitching and I don’t count strikeouts during the game, but it is nice to hear that the number is dwindling,” Zabriskie said.

Strikeouts are not the only statistical category where Zabriskie gives the Cyclones an advantage.

This season, she has an ERA of 2.74 and is holding opponents to a .224 batting average. When those numbers are compared to the ERA (5.82) and batting average (.307) that opponents are giving up against the Cyclones, it is easy to see why Zabriskie is so valuable.

“To Rachel, the most important thing is that Iowa State has success,” Gemeinhardt-Cesler said. “I think she would give all those strikeouts back for a chance to go to regionals.”

Zabriskie is the only senior remaining on a squad with 10 freshmen, while being backed by an infield that was new to their positions to start the season.

“She is always positive. Even when she gets frustrated, she is still positive with us,” said infielder Dalyn Varela. “When we get down, she’s the one person that can spark us and get us going again.”

Catcher Amandine Habben, who has been on the receiving end of most of Zabriskie’s pitches this season, said that on the field, Zabriskie has led by example.

“Rachel’s attitude toward pitching is phenomenal,” Habben said. “She has a ‘give me the ball, I want to pitch, I want to win’ type of attitude.”

Zabriskie and the Cyclones will be back in action this weekend in Ames for the team’s Big 12 and home opener against Oklahoma State.

The team will play a pair of games at home at the Southwest Athletic Complex, one at 2 p.m. Saturday, and again at noon Sunday.