The ISU softball team’s struggles against Iowa continued on Tuesday when it lost again – the eighth time in the teams’ last 11 meetings.

Iowa State (23-15) lost to Iowa (22-11), 3-1, at the Southwest Athletic Complex in front of 265 fans on Tuesday afternoon.

First baseman Katie Brown gave Iowa the go-ahead run against the Cyclones for the second year in a row.

Last year, Brown hit a two-run double to put Iowa ahead 2-1. She continued her clutch play against the Cyclones this year with a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning to put the Hawks ahead – again, 2-1.

The Cyclones struck first this year, however, scoring a run in the second inning when sophomore first baseman Sydni Jones hit a first pitch double off the wall to left center, bringing in sophomore Amanda Bradberry from first base. Bradberry reached base on a single through the right side.

“I thought we came out focused and ready to play,” said co-head coach Crystal Turner. “I thought that we attacked the ball today.”

After that first run, they ran into problems offensively, getting just two hits in the last five innings.

In the fourth inning, Iowa pitcher Amanda Zust relieved starter Brittany Weil. Zust shut down the Cyclones, allowing just one hit and striking out seven in the final four innings. Turner said the problems came from the Hawks going from a high-pitch pitcher in Weil to a lower-pitch pitcher in Zust.

“She had a good drop ball and, again, we just didn’t adjust in time,” Jones said. “I think, if we would have had another couple innings, we would have been on top of her, but that’s how it goes.”

The Hawkeyes were held scoreless until shortstop Erin Riemersma tied the game up with a leadoff solo home run in the fifth before Brown’s homer gave Iowa the lead in the seventh.

Designated player Summer Downs capped off the Hawkeye scoring with a double in the top of the seventh that brought in Riemersma.

Despite the loss, the Cyclones were proud of their defense. The highlight for the Cyclones was Bradberry’s robbing the Hawks of a hit in the fourth inning by diving to her right, fielding a tough ground ball and firing it to first for the out.

“We played awesome defense, we didn’t have any errors – that was the best defense we have played in a long time,” said senior right fielder Kristy Olsen.