The Cyclone softball team played its second game of the weekend against Oklahoma State on Sunday.

Although it was just a day removed from the Cyclones upsetting the No. 17 Cowgirls, both teams looked like entirely new squads in a dominating 15-1 victory for Oklahoma State.

“Going into the game, I felt like we were prepared, but after we got down, we didn’t respond well at all,” said ISU coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler.

The Cyclones started the game off well, taking a 1-0 lead after two innings off of Tori Torrescano’s second home run of the weekend.

In the top of the third inning, the Cowgirls’ offense exploded for five runs on Cyclone pitcher Rachel Zabriskie, including two home runs. Zabriskie was replaced partway through the inning by Bree Holliday, who gave up one more run in the inning, giving the Cowgirls a 6-1 lead.

“You have to play every pitch, and you have to compete every pitch, and we just didn’t do that,” Gemeinhardt-Cesler said.

Oklahoma State continued to pour on the runs after Zabriskie exited the game, scoring three runs in the fourth inning and six in the fifth inning before the game was called. Julie Ward led the way for the Cowgirls, going 2 of 3 at the plate, scoring three runs and batting in four RBIs.

“Any time [Zabriskie] is pitching that second day, it just makes it harder for her,” Gemeinhardt-Cesler said.

Oklahoma State’s familiarity with Zabriskie’s pitching was pointed out by Cyclones players as to why the Cowgirls had so much offense.

“They just faced her yesterday, and she’s been pitching against them for four years, so they know her pretty well,” Torrescano said.

Gemeinhardt-Cesler noted that she was disappointed by the play of her team after they got behind in the scoring column.

“At the end it just got away from us and there was a lack of focus,” Gemeinhardt-Cesler said.

The loss dropped the Cyclones to 15-9 on the season and 1-1 in conference play.

The Cyclones will be back in action at 4 p.m. Wednesday against in-state rival Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.