The relationship between Iowa State and Northern Iowa is frosty at best. In a battle of evenly matched teams, the in-state rivals will do battle for the first time this regular season.

The Cyclones (15-9, 1-1 Big 12) and Panthers (17-13, 4-2 Missouri Valley) have found themselves nearly neck and neck in recent years. The Cyclones’ 6-0 win last season was the highest run differential of coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler’s tenure, and Iowa State’s largest margin of victory against Northern Iowa since 2004.

“Any time you play an in-state school it’s going to be a great game because those are some really good bragging rights,” Gemeinhardt-Cesler said. “Those are just really fun games to play.”

If they hope to take down the host Panthers, the Cyclones will need to shake off the rough finish to the past weekend. After defeating the No. 17-ranked Oklahoma State Cowgirls 4-3 on Saturday, the squad was run-ruled, 15-1, in just five innings by the visitors.

“I think we need to keep it in perspective,” said third baseman Erica Miller. “We need to look at the win on Saturday and remember that and how it felt, and then learn from the things we did wrong on Sunday and improve.”

Northern Iowa has been on a recent roller coaster ride, similar to that of Iowa State. Since a March 11 loss to the aforementioned Cowgirls, the Panthers have gone 7-6, most recently completing a three game sweep of Evansville by a combined 17 runs to four.

Courtney Dunker and Hannah Borschel provide much of the offensive firepower for Northern Iowa. The power hitter Dunker leads the team in home runs, RBIs, and total bases, but has also shown susceptibility at the plate, with a team-high 30 strikeouts.

Borschel is the lightning to Dunker’s thunder. Her team leading totals in runs and hits are coupled with a .370 batting average on 92 at bats.

Both teams seem to mirror each other from the mound. Jamie Fisher has been atop the Panthers’ rotation and compiled a 10-4 record with a 2.11 ERA, compared to Iowa State’s Rachel Zabriskie and her 9-5 record with a 2.92 ERA.

While both teams feature a clear ace, the pitching staff beneath that could be a question mark. Northern Iowa has utilized four pitchers who have combined to go 7-9 while Iowa State’s remaining three hurlers are 6-4 on the year.

Despite the recent wins and accomplishments, the Cyclone women are not expecting to face a complacent opponent.

“Usually they are a very scrappy team,” Miller said. “You can’t go in understanding them and trying to skate by.”

Gemeinhardt-Cesler said in order to regain the momentum of their recent six-game winning streak the Cyclones will need to get back to defensive efficiency and limit the mistakes on that end.

They survived a late-game rally by Oklahoma State, and a two-run home run by Miller in the sixth inning gave Iowa State the 4-3 victory. With the history of close games in the Iowa State vs Northern Iowa, late-game heroics like this could be the difference maker.

“I’m excited for the game because they beat us this fall and I want to get back at them,” said freshman Sara Davison. “I feel like we are a much better team than we were then.”

Wednesday’s game will begin at 4 p.m. in Cedar Falls.