Amie Ford pitched a four-hit shutout Saturday, a 1-0 victory over South Carolina, giving softball coach Stacy Gemeinhardt her first victory at Iowa State.

Jessica Quade drove in the winning run in the sixth inning with a single through the left side, after back-to-back doubles from Ashley Killeen and Katie Reichling. Killeen, Reichling and Jennifer Bigbee all collected two hits apiece for the Cyclones.

Ford struck out two batters and lowered her earned run average to 1.11 on the season.

But the Cyclones dropped three other games in their season-opening tournament at Florida State.

Alyssa Ransom pitched a complete game, striking out five but giving up three runs in the first game.

Whitney Perkins and Quade collected two hits apiece in the opener as South Carolina defeated the Cyclones 3-0.

In the second game, the Cyclones were only able to muster two hits against Florida State’s Melissa May. The Seminoles powered by on a four RBI day from Carly Brieske to take the second game 5-0. In the rematch game, the Seminoles still proved to be too much for the Cyclones, winning 9-1.

Reichling, converting from a pitcher to a third baseman and left fielder, has recorded a hit in three straight games. Quade has driven in all of the runs so far on the season for the Cyclones and is riding a two-game hitting streak of her own. Quade also collected the first hit of the season for the Cyclones, a single to left field against South Carolina.

The Cyclones will take the field again Friday against Wichita State in the Crowne Plaza Classic in Houston, Texas.

-Al Reed