There is a benefit for the ISU softball team traveling south for a 39-game road trip to start the season.

It gets to leave the sub-zero temperatures in Ames.

This weekend the Cyclones (2-3) will travel to the Lafayette, La. for the Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational. Iowa State will play against two undefeated teams in the tournament, including 16th-ranked host Louisiana-Lafayette (6-0).

On Friday the Cyclones play the Ragin’ Cajuns and Purdue (0-5), who they defeated last week. On Saturday, they play Ole Miss (1-4) and 17th-ranked Big 12 foe Baylor (6-0).

Their performance on Friday and Saturday places them in bracket play for Sunday.

Senior pitcher Alyssa Ransom said the good competition the team is getting in these early season road trips prepares them for the Big 12 Conference.

“We get to play two Big 12 teams (Baylor and Kansas) before the actual Big 12 season,” Ransom said. “That will help prepare for when it matters in conference.”

The Cyclones made a few small mistakes but played well overall last week in the Bulldog Round Robin. Senior catcher Ashley Killeen and senior outfield/pitcher Katie Reichling were named to the all-tournament team.

Coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler said the team will try to correct many of its small mistakes this weekend.

“We missed some hit cuts and had some communication problems,” Gemeinhardt-Cesler said. “Those are the things we concentrated on this week and I look for them to improve this weekend.”

The Cyclones received strong performances from their senior-laden lineup, but also got surprising performances from their two new freshman starters, shortstop Courtney Wray and designated player Alex Johnson.

Senior infielder Kristen Karanzias said the team needs to come out more focused this weekend.

“We had a lot of mental mistakes,” Karanzias said. “That is going to be key for us and our bats ended up coming around Sunday.

“If we can build upon that, I think that will be good for us,” Karanzias said.