The wind was straight out to right field, carrying with it almost every high fly ball hit to that side.

Unfortunately for the Cyclones, those high fly balls were hit three times by UNI players and just once by Iowa State. The three Panther home runs accounted for all of the Northern Iowa’s runs in its 6-4 victory over Iowa State in front of a crowd of 257 at the Southwest Athletics Complex.

Statistically, the game was as close as the score indicates, with the Panthers outhitting the Cyclones 12 to 10, but committing three errors to Iowa State’s zero.

The only real separation in the game was the long ball. Northern Iowa hit a three-run, a two-run and a solo home run. The only home run Iowa State hit was first baseman Sydni Jones’ solo shot in the sixth inning.

“They are just a really solid hitting team. That’s all there is to it,” Jones said.

UNI started the scoring with a two-run home run by catcher Kelly Popesh in the third inning, then really broke the game open in the fifth inning when pitcher Jen Larson and outfielder Rachel Gerking hit back-to-back home runs, putting the Panthers up 6-1.

“When they scored four we just kind of sat around for a little bit and didn’t really react as quickly, so we ran out of time,” head coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler said.

Although the rally did start a little bit late, and end just short, the Cyclones were able to come back and make the game interesting again. Jones led the rally, leading off the 6th inning with a home run. She also hit a two out, bases empty double in the seventh. Amanda Bradberry then hit a single up the middle that was misplayed by the UNI center fielder, allowing Jones to score and Bradberry to hustle all the way to third base. Then Monroe, who represented the tying run, grounded out on a sharply hit ball to the short stop to end the game.

The home opener was the Cyclones’ first game since losing pitcher Charissa Carlin, leaving the team with just one pitcher, Rachel Zabriskie.

“Right now we are going through a tough time, losing our second pitcher so [Rachel] feels like there is a lot of pressure on her and we weren’t doing our jobs hitting,” Jones said.

Even Zabriskie is not completely healthy.

“She has had to change some grips because of a finger that’s busted open, so we are asking her to do a lot,” Gemeinhardt-Cesler said.

These problems with the pitching staff may have carried over to the rest of the team as well, putting more pressure on batters to produce.

“I think we could have been trying too hard … I just don’t think we came out and played our softball and they did,” Jones said.