There was a sigh of relief from the ISU softball bench last weekend.

Erica Martinez, a senior pitcher/outfielder, returned to the Cyclones’ lineup after missing five Big 12 Conference games due to a stress fracture in her right arm.

Martinez started in left field against Baylor Sunday and came in for relief on the mound in the top of the third inning, providing a gutsy pitching performance for the Cyclones.

ISU head coach Ruth Crowe said Martinez was still feeling the effects of the injury in her pitching Sunday, but still did a good job.

“You could tell that she was a little rusty but I really didn’t care,” Crowe said. “I didn’t expect her to go out there and completely shut them down. I really wanted her to get back in it again and kind of get her timing back.”

Crowe said Martinez didn’t practice with the team for three weeks with her injury. Crowe said she wasn’t expecting Martinez to last as long as she did Sunday.

“She threw a little bit on Saturday just to warm up,” Crowe said. “Sunday was really a testament of just how good she really is. Having her back brings a spark and it really meant a lot to her teammates to have her back.”

Prior to the weekend series with Baylor, Martinez missed conference games against Nebraska, Oklahoma and Missouri.

The right-hander has compiled a career pitching record of 25-40 with three saves, and is 9-7 this season. She said she is feeling a lot better with her arm.

“It was good to have that time [on Sunday],” said Martinez, who pitched five solid innings to earn the win. “I went to the doctor and he said to at least try to get a week off to rest. I took about a week and a half off [from competition].

“Then I threw a little bit and I was feeling pretty good. I knew that I was ready to come in.”

Martinez said she is a little rusty and not quite 100 percent with her arm.

“I haven’t thrown, obviously, and my muscles kind of feel a little weak,” Martinez said. “It will take some time I think, but I want to go and try to get everything I can.”

The absence of Martinez also put a hole in the team offensively as she is one of the team batting leaders with a .256 batting average.

She showed no rust at the plate Saturday as she went 2-for-3 at the plate. In Sunday’s game, Martinez drew three walks and struck out once.

Senior third baseman Adi Blackmon said the team felt great knowing that Martinez returned back to the lineup.

“Erica is a consistent player,” Blackmon said. “She is always going to come through no matter what. She is going to make something happen, and she did on Sunday.

“She is a definite catalyst to our team. We really needed her. It’s great to have her back. She’s an offensive and defensive threat. When she’s pitching good, nobody can touch her,” Blackmon said.