The Cyclone softball team found out how much difference a week — and some tougher competition — can make.

A team batting average of .423 and pitcher Rachel Zabriskie flirting with a no-hitter at last week’s Cyclone Indoor Invitational seem like a long time ago.

The CenturyLink Classic in San Marcos, Texas, saw the Cyclones go 1-4 on the weekend, dropping two games to the Texas State Bobcats before splitting games with the Purdue Boilermakers.

“We were definitely less confident in ourselves this weekend than when we were at home,” Zabriskie said. “The same goes for me.”

Zabriskie struggled while playing only 35 miles from her hometown of Austin, Texas. She recorded an ERA of 6.08 in just more than 13 innings of work. Zabriskie, who holds the all-time ISU record for strikeouts, was able to ring up 15 batters on the weekend, but often struggled to get outs at the beginning of innings.

“In pitching, the most important thing is to get ahead in the count and get the first batter out,” Zabriskie said. “We definitely didn’t do a good job of that.”

Zabriskie was not the only Cyclone player to have an uncharacteristic weekend. The Cyclones’ first three batters in the order — Heidi Kidwell, Bianca Lopez and Erica Miller — went a combined 4-of-33 at the plate.

“The good thing, I think, is that the mistakes we’re making are things we can correct,” coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler said.

The team did have some bright spots at the CenturyLink Classic, with several freshmen stepping in and performing well.

Pitcher Bree Holliday made her second start of the season, while also seeing time as a reliever and picking up the first save of her young career. Holliday had an ERA of 2.08 this weekend in eight innings of action.

“She was able to really find her rhythm this weekend,” Gemeinhardt-Cesler said, noting that Holliday threw her change-up pitch exceptionally well.

Meanwhile, two freshmen helped keep the Cyclone bats going. Sara Rice (.333) and Sara Davison (.300) were the team’s leading hitters during the four-game stretch, with Davison scoring a team-high three runs.

The Cyclones will try to bounce back next weekend in Charleston, S.C. at the College of Charleston Cougar Classic. Iowa State’s first game in Charleston will be against Marist College on Friday.