Iowa State shut out in-state foe Northern Iowa (UNI) in a tough defensive battle by a score of 2-0.

Both teams were on point defensively and in the circle in the first three and a half innings as there were no runs off three hits between both teams combined.

The Cyclones put the first run on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning as senior center fielder Taylor Nearad scored the first run of the game off of a wild pitch by UNI pitcher Emma Olejniczak.

In the bottom of the sixth inning the Cyclones added an insurance run as redshirt sophomore Talyn Lewis hit an RBI double and senior catcher Kaylee Bosworth scored to give the Cyclones a 2-0 victory over the Panthers.

“I knew there was a big run out there and I was ready to attack any pitch that she left in the [strike] zone,” Lewis said.

Lewis had two hits and an RBI.

Freshman Shannon Mortimer stepped in the circle for the Cyclones and pitched all seven innings, allowed no runs off of two hits. She had two strikeouts in her complete game shutout.

“I felt more efficient today, and my changeup was a lot better today,” Mortimer said.

Mortimer improved to 6-4 this season.

“We needed a steadying pitching performance to get the pitching staff back on track, and she provided that,” said Iowa State coach Jamie Pinkerton.

The Cyclones are now 24-18 (1-8 Big 12) this season, and the Panthers are 20-17 (11-5 MVC) this season.

With this win, the Cyclones have surpassed their win total from each of their past two seasons.