SOFTBALL: Cyclones break six-game slump

Senior infielder Courtney Wray stands ready for the ball, March 31 during the game against Iowa. The Cyclones defeated Iowa 7-3 at the Southwest Athletic Complex. Photo: Rebekka Brown/Iowa State Daily

Rebekka Brown

Senior infielder Courtney Wray stands ready for the ball, March 31 during the game against Iowa. The Cyclones defeated Iowa 7-3 at the Southwest Athletic Complex. Photo: Rebekka Brown/Iowa State Daily

David Merrill —

Junior pitcher Rachel Zabriskie helped get the Cyclones back on track ending their losing streak at six games as she pitched a no-hitter through five innings before being relieved by Tori Torrescano in Iowa State’s 6-0 victory over Northern Iowa.

Zabriskie pitched six innings, while allowing only one hit and striking out six of the 19 batters she faced.

With the win, Zabriskie improved her record to 19-11 on the year.

The outfielders have been leading the way at the plate for the Cyclones (23-19, 1-5 Big 12) but this time the infielders stepped in as they got hits from catcher Alex Johnson, third basemen Courtney Wray, first basemen Sydni Jones and second basemen Amanda Bradberry.

Wray went 3-4 with one RBI and one run scored.

The group combined to go 9-14 (.642) at the plate.

Johnson’s RBI was her 25th of the season.

As a team the Cyclones put together six runs on 11 hits and got help from the Panthers (21-17) and their three errors.

Iowa State was able to get back to getting on the board early and often as they scored five of their six runs by the end of the third inning.

Including scoring three runs in the top of the third.

Zabriskie continued to mow batters down in order into the sixth inning before UNI sophomore left fielder Hannah Borschel broke up the no-hitter on a single into the gap between the second basemen and shortstop.

This marked only the second time the Cyclones have lead at any point of a game since their victory at home against Iowa before going on their six-game losing streak.