The ISU softball team heads to Cathedral City, Calif., this weekend to take part in the Cathedral Classic. The Cyclones (2-6) hope to bounce back from last weekend’s thrashing in Tempe, Ariz.

The team took part in a “mental workshop” on Monday that the players and coaches feel went quite well.

“I think that was good,” said coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler. “You don’t have to play well to convince yourself that you’re well.”

The purpose of the mental workshop was simple.

“We just went through a lot of things where we can focus more,” said freshman Jorden Smith.

The team is also expecting to make some changes in practice to rebound from their five-game losing streak.

“I know that our pitchers are going to be working harder,” Smith said. “We really need them, and I know that they want this just like we do, so I’m sure we’ll be doing more hitting off of our pitchers and just trying to get into the groove.”

The Cyclones will be playing five games this weekend against Fresno State and Oregon State on Thursday, Colorado State and Pacific on Friday and San Diego State on Saturday.

The Cyclones face Fresno State (7-2) to begin the weekend. Iowa State is 1-3 all-time against the Bulldogs.

The Cyclones are sure to face a tough pitching staff in this one, as the Bulldogs team ERA currently stands at 0.80 through nine games this season.

Iowa State and Oregon State (7-3) will meet for just the second time ever on Thursday. The Beavers won the previous meeting 10-2 back in 2003.

OSU junior Marina Demore, who is 3-1 this season with a 1.67 ERA through five starts, is the team’s standout starter.

Iowa State and Colorado State (3-7) are tied 2-2 in the teams’ all-time series. The Rams’ pitching staff has been well below average this season, as their six starters currently combine for an 8.71 ERA.

CSU freshman outfielder Shae Rodriguez is the team’s only player with 10 or more RBIs this season.

The Cyclones have not faced Pacific (2-5) in more than 20 years. Iowa State won the 1989 meeting 8-4.

Tigers junior Nikki Armagost is the team’s top threat both on the mound and at the plate. She leads the pitching staff with a 1.56 ERA through 18 innings to go along with her .409 batting average.

Iowa State and San Diego State (7-4) are fairly familiar with one another. The two teams have met 10 times with the Aztecs leading the all-time series 6-4, having won the previous meeting 4-3 in extra innings in 2009.

Aztec sophomore Hayley Miles leads the team with 31 total bases to complement a .441 batting average and four homers. The three pitchers that make up SDSU’s staff have combined for a 2.42 ERA this season.

The Cyclones begin the weekend against Fresno State at 12:30 p.m. Thursday as they attempt to erase the frustration left by last weekend’s losses and turn the young season around.