In many of the victories of the ISU softball team’s hot streak, the big performances have come from the freshmen in the lineup. In Wednesday’s doubleheader against Northern Iowa, however, a couple of seniors stepped into the limelight.

Senior first baseman Jessica Quade and senior left fielder Katie Reichling spearheaded the Cyclones (19-24) to a sweep of the Panthers (13-18), winning the first game 6-3, and the second game 5-3.

Quade ripped a home run in the fifth inning of the first game and led off the sixth inning of the second game, with the Cyclones clinging to a 3-2 lead, with another solo homer.

Quade said she got jammed in her first couple of at bats and just made an adjustment.

“I thought they would pitch me inside again,” Quade said. “I just moved off the plate, it was there, and I was ready for it.”

Coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler said Quade does a great job of hitting the pitches she should.

“I think that is key for any hitter, when you realize the pitch that you are supposed to hit or the pitch that you are the best at hitting, and you take advantage of that when it comes, you will be successful,” Gemeinhardt-Cesler said.

“I think that when she came up for that second at bat, after we had pinch run for her, and just decided she was going to hit it out so she wouldn’t have to come out of the game.”

Reichling went 4-6 with two doubles, one run scored and three runs batted in in the doubleheader.

Three of her hits, including both doubles, came in the second game.

Reichling said she was happy with the way she hit the ball in the second game.

“In the first game, I was popping stuff up,” Reichling said. “In the second game, I was happy to make good connection, especially with people on base.”

Gemeinhardt-Cesler said she was excited for Reichling because that was the hardest she has hit the ball in the last several games.

“She looked extremely comfortable up there,” Gemeinhardt-Cesler said.

“She hit to both sides of the field, which is great, because that means you are doing what you need to do with both inside and outside pitches.”

Senior pitcher Alyssa Ransom (7-8) also had big day, picking up the complete game victory in game one while striking out six.

Ransom also got the save in game two, which was her first of the season, and broke the school record for her career, in relief of freshman Charissa Carlin (9-6).