Softball loses 2 in heartbreaking fashion
The Iowa State softball team kneeled in a group and watched on as their starting pitcher Brianna Weilbacher was struck in the face with a softball. Iowa State would later win the game 8-7 against Eastern Illinois in extra innings on a walk-off win on Feb. 12.
March 12, 2016
Iowa State endured heartbreak Saturday as the softball team dropped two in the Louisville Slugger Invitational.
The Cyclones kept both games close but weren’t able to pull ahead late game in their 7-1 loss to UCLA (15-8, 0-0 Pac-12) and a 5-4 loss to Long Beach State (14-8, 0-0 Big West).
Iowa State was able to hold UCLA to just two runs up until the sixth inning when UCLA busted the game wide open with six hit, five run inning to go up to seven. Iowa State was unable to recover from the devastating inning.
The Cyclones were able to maintain a 3-2 lead for almost the entirety of the game against Long Beach State after the first inning.
Iowa State had increased its lead to 4-2 going into the seventh. The bases were loaded while Long Beach accrued two outs.
It started with freshman pitcher Savannah Sanders walking a batter to allow Long Beach State to score. After walking another batter (Sanders’ fourth walk of the inning) the score was tied at four.
Junior Mandi Moore was then brought in to close the inning but instead gave up a single base hit to second base to bring in the winning score.
Iowa State will battle against Cal State Fullerton (16-8, 0-0 Big West) on Sunday at 11:00 a.m.
