The ISU softball team is only two weeks away from the beginning of Big 12 conference play.

The Cyclones (6-11) have 12 games remaining on the nonconference schedule before they face Texas at home on March 23. So far this season, the Cyclones’ inconsistency has outweighed their brief moments of excellence.

“The game against Brown showed that we can score a lot of runs and everybody can hit all the way throughout the lineup,” said junior Tori Torrescano. “So I think we just need to bring that into every single game.”

Despite a 6-11 record on the season, the Cyclones have displayed potential of late, winning their last two games by a combined score of 24-9.

“We obviously have talent, and it’s showing up sporadically right now,” said sophomore Sara Davison. “We just need to be more consistent and have our offense, defense and pitching all come together at the same time.”

The Cyclones hope to find consistency sooner rather than later.

“Practices are becoming more tailored to what we need to work on,” Torrescano said. “We still have a lot of preseason games left to tune up and get ready for those Big 12 games.”

The Big 12 schedule has proved to be very difficult for the Cyclones in past seasons. This season, the team intends to keep working hard and let the results follow.

“You go out and you play every game the best you can, no matter who you’re playing,” said ISU coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler. “We’re not doing anything different. We’re just working as hard as we can in every facet of the game.”

The Cyclones are just one of two teams in the Big 12 currently owning a losing record this season, the other being Oklahoma State (8-9).

“Everyone in the Big 12 is really good,” Davison said. “So we don’t need to take losses like they’re devastating.”

The Cyclones are looking forward to finally playing home games for a number of reasons.

“It’s going to be awesome,” Torrescano said. “It’s going to be nice to not miss classes and stuff, but it’s also going to be nice to actually have a home crowd for once and get some friends and family out there watching.”

The reduced stress level of home games is something the team is excited about.

“I think it’s great anytime you can not leave town on a Thursday and come back early Monday morning,” Gemeinhardt-Cesler said. “That’ll be nice.”

The Cyclones will do their best to wrap up the nonconference schedule on a positive note before heading into Big 12 play. The team heads to Springfield, Mo., this weekend for a three game series against Missouri State.