Her reaction was not what one would expect from a person who just became the career leader in doubles.

Senior shortstop Lexi Slater does not look like the typical imposing slugger when she steps up to bat, but she will be known as one of the best batters to have ever donned an ISU uniform.

At the beginning of the year, Slater entered just a couple doubles behind the current record high of 38. She was not even aware that she was close to the all-time mark.

On March 7, Iowa State was matched against the University of California Santa-Barbara in the Rebel Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. During the game, Slater hit a double. While standing on base she noticed something odd — her dad taking pictures.

“I saw my dad taking pictures and he never takes pictures,” Slater said.

Slater was confused by what she saw. Immediately following the game, her dad approached her to share the news.

“He came up to me and told me that I had tied the record,” Slater said. “I asked, ‘record for what?’ And he tells me for meeting the record high of 38 doubles.”

The following day, Iowa State played Eastern Kentucky, again in the Rebel Classic. Slater led the Cyclones in the sixth inning. She took a pitch and smashed a double off the center field wall to capture and break former ISU player Alex Johnson’s (2007-10) career doubles record.

Slater’s reaction came as a shock to her head coach.  

“She had no reaction,” said coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler. “She did not really act like she just broke the record.”

Slater would eventually be brought home on a wild pitch. When she entered the dugout, teammates and coaches congratulated her on exceeding the record high.

At that moment, however, she was not concerned about the record. She just wanted to help her team win and that is exactly what the Cyclones did.

With that win against Eastern Kentucky, Slater broke yet another record. In that game, Slater also became the fifth ISU player in program history to reach triple-digit RBIs in a career.

Slater’s maturity and relentless work ethic were significant attributes that helped her achieve these records.

“Lexi has really matured during the year,” said second-year hitting coach Lindsey Ubrun. “When she is having a bad game, she is able to bounce back, which is credited to her work ethic.”  

Slater’s quest of breaking records is far from over as she is in reach of meeting or exceeding several others. By the end of the season, Slater could hold records in career runs, career RBIs and career assists.

Slater is also in the top 10 for career hits, career starts and career appearances.

“It is writing your name in the sand essentially,” Slater said. “People will see your name with those records and want to beat you.”

With Slater garnering record after record, she has cemented herself as one of the greats in ISU softball history, setting several benchmarks for future Cyclones to come.