Despite a strong wind that forced some foul balls, the Cyclones still found a way to top the Cowgirls on Sunday. After battling an extra innings and losing 3-1 on Saturday, Iowa State was looking to salvage the weekend series with a win. Sophomore pitcher Rachel Zabriskie went the distance once again and threw a complete game for the Cyclones leading them to a 4-1 victory.

Iowa State quickly got on the board with first-inning run. Junior infielder Courtney Wray singled up the middle driving in sophomore outfielder Carleigh Berry.

After a 1-2-3 top of the third, Iowa State’s offense scored another run off a double by junior infielder Amanda Bradberry, extending the lead to 2-0.

In the top of the fifth, Zabriskie got out of a bases-loaded jam, allowing one unearned run and keeping the damage minimal. Iowa State responded in the bottom half of the inning with a pair of runs from a double by junior catcher Alex Johnson.

A pair of controversial calls were made during the seventh inning involving Oklahoma State third-baseman Mariah Gearhart. It looked as if Zabriskie had hit Gearhart during an at-bat, but the umpire ruled Gearhart had stepped into the pitch, causing the ball to hit her.

After an long argument by Cowgirls coach Rich Wieligman, the umpires forced Gearhart to continue the at-bat, Zabriskie once again hit her, but this time it looked as if Gearhart had fouled it off. After a conference on the field, the umpires ruled that Gearhart was indeed hit by the pitch, causing Cyclone coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler to argue the call and get ejected.

Despite this, Zabriskie cruised the rest of the way and closed out the game for the Cyclones.

Sunday’s game saw a more balanced approach for the Cyclones. Zabriskie once again shone, pitching the entire game and striking out five, while allowing one unearned run.

However, the offense hit its stride on Sunday’s game, collecting eight hits and four runs.

“After the game [on Saturday] we talked a little bit about what they felt, if they really didn’t hit well and if there was a good reason for that, if they were keeping us off-balance or not,” Gemeinhardt-Cesler said. “I think that they really felt that they should have done better, could have done better. We were able to believe that and make the adjustments and do better today.”

After pitching all 15 innings this weekend, Zabriskie said she felt good, calling it one of the best pitching performances of her career. Despite the high amount of innings she threw, Zabriskie doesn’t feel that fatigue will be much of a factor.

“I’ve pitched every game for the past few weeks,” Zabriskie said.. “I’m almost used to it and I’ve just accepted the fact that we don’t have too many other choices,  so I’m just going to have to deal with it if I get tired.,” Zabriskie said.