After 41 straight road games, the ISU softball team started its first two home games of the season on the right track.

The Cyclones (19-24) swept the home opening doubleheader against in-state rival University of Northern Iowa on Wednesday, 6-3 and 5-3, at the Southwest Athletic Complex.

“I think that everybody was really excited to be at home,” said coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler. “I thought the crowd was great for being at 1 o’clock and 3 o’clock on a Wednesday. It has been long road trips.”

In game one, the Cyclones jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third inning. They stretched the lead to 6-1 on a home run by senior first baseman Jessica Quade. Northern Iowa (13-18) rallied for two runs in the fifth to end the scoring.

Senior pitcher Alyssa Ransom pitched a complete game and picked up the win.

In game two, Northern Iowa struck first, scoring a run in the top of the first inning.

The Cyclones, however, came back by scoring three runs in the third inning, highlighted by senior outfielder Katie Reichling stealing home on a double steal with senior catcher Ashley Killeen taking second base.

Freshman pitcher Charissa Carlin also pitched well, going 5 1/3 innings and giving up two runs, one earned.

Ransom pitched relief for the Cyclones and earned the save, making her the Cyclones all-time career leader in saves.

“I think it’s really neat to come here and leave with something like that; to be number one in a category,” Ransom said.

The accomplishment was not lost on the rest of the team either.

“I think it’s great,” Gemeinhardt-Cesler said.

“I wish I had been here throughout the seniors’ four years here, and I haven’t, I’ve been here the last two years. But she [Ransom] has worked hard. I’m happy that she fought through that. She got a little shook up there but she fought through it. That’s a sign of a good pitcher.”

The save was in question late in the game with the score 5-2 in the sixth inning. Ransom allowed two hits and the Cyclones committed two errors allowing Northern Iowa to score an unearned run, but they stranded runners at first and third to end the game.

“Anytime we win, I am happy with that,” Gemeinhardt-Cesler said. “It got a little ugly at one point but we had enough runs to fight that off.”

The “ugly” part was the three errors in the game, two of which came in the final inning.

“Defensively we had some errors today that we haven’t been making,” Gemeinhardt-Cesler said. “I think that all day our focus was a little off. Maybe because it’s the first time we’ve gone to class and had to play, I don’t know, but no excuse is a good excuse.”