The ISU softball team was able to come away with a 1-0 victory against Drake on Wednesday to snap a four-game losing skid.

Taylor Smith (2-0) shined in the outing, pitching seven scoreless innings while allowing only three hits and no runs to pick up the win.

“The girls did really good fielding for me,” Smith said. “One run is enough for a win, but it wasn’t a lot of comfort.”

The sophomore transfer was originally a basketball player at Kirkwood Community College before making the decision to transfer to Iowa State to play softball.

“I played two years at Kirkwood, then I played basketball at Truman State, then I decided not to play basketball, then I decided to come here in January.” Smith said. “I talked to coach [Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler], and she said I could join.”

Smith has been used sparingly this season, picking up one victory previous to the game and only pitching a total of 11 innings.

“I think for Taylor, [she’s] going to continue to get better and better,” Gemeinhardt-Casler said. “The issue with her is this is someone who hasn’t thrown a softball in three years, so I think time is going to be big for her. I think she has all the tools, it’s just going to be some time.”

The game was tied through the third inning before Lexi Slater was able to hit a double in the fourth to put Iowa State (10-19, 0-3 Big 12) in scoring position. Erica Miller then doubled as well in the very next at-bat, bringing Slater home to put the Cyclones ahead 1-0.

“[Smith] did amazing,” Slater said. “She went into every inning with no fear and threw to whoever no matter if they were a slapper or the No. 4 hitter. She just threw the ball.”

With the win, Iowa State halts Drake’s eight-game win streak and breaks its own four-game skid in the process, including an ugly 8-0 loss to Northern Iowa on Tuesday.

“I think we came out [Tuesday] batting slow with no energy,” Slater said. “[On Wednesday,] we just had something in us. We wanted to show everyone that’s not the team we are. We are full of energy. We want the win, we want to be on that side. It was good to do that right before we leave and go to Texas.”

Iowa State’s next contest will be a tripleheader beginning Friday against Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas. Action is set to begin at 6 p.m.