The ISU softball team hopes to be back on the winning track.

The Cyclones broke out of their recent slump on Tuesday with a pair of 11-2 wins over University of Missouri-Kansas City. They hope to carry their momentum into the National Invitational Softball Tournament in Sunnyvale, Calif., this weekend.

At the NIST, the Cyclones (7-15) will face 23rd-ranked California (13-9), Santa Clara (2-19), UC-Davis (8-7-1), UC-Riverside (10-11), Eastern Illinois (6-5), and Cal Poly (13-6).

The coach at Cal Poly is former ISU great Jenny Condon. Condon was an All-American for the Cyclones and is currently the only softball player in the ISU Hall of Fame.

“She was a tremendous athlete while she was here so I think that it is outstanding that we play her team,” said coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler.

In order to be competitive in this tournament, the team feels it needs to stay relaxed and focused.

“Most importantly, we want to have fun and relax,” Gemeinhardt-Cesler said. “We also need to make adjustments and focus before the game starts. We also need to execute and just take it one game and one pitch at a time.”

The team also believes it needs to stay upbeat in order to be successful.

“We need to stay positive,” said freshman infielder Alex Johnson. “We kind of had a rough start but if we keep our spirits high, we will do great.”

One thing that should help the Cyclones stay positive and win games is the return of senior pitcher Alyssa Ransom. Ransom, who has been sidelined the last 12 games because of injury, is one of the cornerstones of the Cyclones pitching staff. She holds several team records, including innings pitched, saves and complete games.

“Anytime that Al throws we have a great opportunity to win,” Gemeinhardt-Cesler said. “She throws harder than all of our other pitchers. That has the potential to keep the hitters off balance when you throw her and someone else back to back.”

Gemeinhardt-Cesler also added that freshman pitcher Charissa Carlin has done a good job filling in for Ransom. Carlin is currently leading the team with an ERA of 1.84.

The Cyclones have already seen improvements in their play this week. On Tuesday they rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to score 11 straight in both games of the doubleheader.

Johnson led the way in the first game with a home run and four RBI. Seniors Ashley Killeen and Jessica Quade also homered in the game.

Carlin got the win, allowing two runs in four innings and striking out seven batters.

In the second game, Killeen became the career RBI leader on a two-run home run in the fourth inning.

Freshmen Amanda Bradberry and Johnson also hit home runs in the game. It was Bradberry’s first home run of her career.

Amie Ford pitched well to pick up the win, pitching five innings and giving up four hits and no earned runs.