The ISU softball team split its weekend series against No. 22 Oklahoma to reach the 20-win mark for the first time in a season since 1999.

Iowa State scored all the runs it would need in the fourth inning of Saturday’s contest with a two-run single from Cary Akins and a three-run triple from Fallon Johnson. The five runs would prove to be more than enough for Alyssa Ransom, as she scattered six hits and six strikeouts throughout her 16th complete game of the season.

“It was really good that Fallon [Johnson] got that big hit,” Ransom said. “Normally we get one or two runs.”

Ransom’s win is her third straight against a ranked opponent.

“You look at the Big 12 and how many teams are ranked, but we just approach every game like we have to beat them,” Ransom said. “It doesn’t matter if they’re ranked 24th, 16th or No. 1.”

Ransom escaped trouble in the sixth inning with runners on first and third base when Jennifer Bigbee dropped an infield fly ball and Jessica Quade threw to Akins at second for the first out. Akins then threw the runner out at the plate to complete an improbable double play.

In Sunday’s matchup both offenses scored early and often.

Ashley Killeen singled to right field to score Johnson and Kristy Olsen. The two runs batted in gave Killeen 35 for the season and pushed her into third place all-time in ISU history for RBIs.

“I think I’ve just gotten better with experience,” Killeen said. “I’ve worked in the offseason, and it’s starting to pay off.

“It’s because my teammates are getting on base, so I can get a bunch of RBIs.”

In the seventh inning, Traci Dickenson hit a three-run home run off Amie Ford to push the score to 8-3. Then the Cyclones went back to work in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Cyclones had runners on first and second when Bigbee stepped up to the plate. Bigbee flew out to deep right field, and Katie Reichling tagged up to third. Reichling scored on a wild pitch, and pinch runner Lanae Davis ended up on second base. Stephanie Mosley doubled to left center field to score Davis and close the gap to 8-6. Oklahoma changed pitchers and struck out Beth Tharp to end the game.

Mosley recorded three hits on the day, more than she had all season.

“I was seeing the ball really well today,” Mosley said. “We just needed everyone to step it up this game, especially for the seniors, so it meant more to me today to get hits.”

The Cyclones showed discipline at the plate in both games during the weekend, and that discipline allowed them to rally in the second game against Oklahoma (29-18, 5-10).

“Whenever a pitcher is throwing a lot of balls, that’s exactly what you want to do,” said ISU coach Stacy Gemeinhardt.

Gemeinhardt was glad to see the team fight back Sunday.

“Sometimes we’ve had a tendency to come off what’s considered a great win and then not play well after that,” Gemeinhardt said. “And I thought that they played well today and that they competed well, and we were always in the game.”

The Cyclones (20-22, 4-8) play two doubleheaders this week, Tuesday against South Dakota State and Wednesday against Missouri.