OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Rachel Zabriskie limited fifth-ranked and top-seeded Texas A&M to a season-low three hits but Big 12 Player and Pitcher of the Year Megan Gibson tossed a two-hit shutout as the Aggies defeated the Cyclones, 1-0, Saturday afternoon at the Big 12 Championships.
The Cyclones wrap up their season 29-29. It marks the first time since 1999 that ISU finishes with a record of at least .500 and the 29 wins is the most by a Cyclones squad since 1989. The Aggies improve to 47-7 and advance to face the winner of Oklahoma State and Texas.
Zabriskie and Gibson dueled back-and-forth to a scoreless tie until Holly Ridley broke it up for the Aggies with her third homer of the season. The fourth inning solo shot came with one-out.
That was all the scoring in the game as Zabriskie didn’t allow a hit the rest of the way and Gibson gave up just two hits.
All-Big 12 second team selection Sydni Jones broke up Gibson’s no-hit bid with a single down the left field line in the fifth. Gibson got out of the inning by forcing out Jones at second and getting Carleigh Berry to ground out to third.
Cyclone senior Ariel Coburn made a bid to tie the game in the seventh with a double to center that just missed clearing the fence. Gibson fanned Jones on a changeup for her 10th strikeout of the game to end ISU’s season.
Zabriskie (15-14) took the loss for the Cyclones, giving up just three hits and striking out one. The Austin, Texas native wraps up one of the most successful rookie campaigns in school history as the single-season freshman record holder with 15 wins and 146 strikeouts.
Gibson (31-1) got the win, allowing just two hits and striking out 10 Cyclone batters.
Texas A&M 1, Iowa State 0 (5-10-2008 at Oklahoma City, Okla.)
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Iowa State.......... 000 000 0 - 0 2 0 (29-29)
Texas A&M........... 000 100 X - 1 3 0 (47-7)
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Pitchers: Iowa State - Zabriskie, Rachel. Texas A&M - Gibson, Megan.
Win-Gibson, Megan(31-1) Loss-Zabriskie, Rachel(15-14) T-1:18 A-1638
HR TAMU - Ridley, Holly.
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