The ISU softball squad fell short Tuesday in its attempt to sweep the intrastate series, losing an extra-inning decision to visiting Northern Iowa.

The game extended into the eighth inning with the score tied at three. Because Iowa State needed to hit the road for Wednesday’s doubleheader at Missouri, the international tiebreaker rule was implemented. The rule places a runner at second to begin the inning, and the Panthers (11-13) used the opportunity to their advantage.

Northern Iowa first baseman Stephanie Aguero was the starting runner and was advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Erin Strellner. ISU pitcher Katie Reichling struck Tracy Davis with a pitch, who worsened the jam by stealing second.

Panther catcher Melissa King made her second crucial play of the game with a rocketing double down the third baseline, bringing in the two runners and bumping the score to 5-3, which was good for the win.

“Our offense fell asleep during the game,” said ISU head coach Ruth Crowe. “Due to the nature of our schedule we had to use the tiebreaker, but it should have been to our advantage as the home team anyway.”

Iowa State knocked in the first run of the game to take the early lead. After Kim Rodgers’ shallow liner to right, Ashley Killeen’s sacrifice bunt took Rodgers to second, and a hit by Jessica Quade sent Rodgers home.

Northern Iowa put itself on the board the next inning. With runners at first and third, a throw from catcher Killeen to Cary Akins at second was misplayed and the runner scored.

Iowa State quickly answered the same inning when Diana Reuter doubled to right center, followed by a successful bunt by Jennifer Bigbee, who later stole second. Consecutive hits by Killeen and Quade allowed Bigbee and Reuter to score.

Kristen Karanzias was put on the mound in the third and stayed until the sixth, when Alyssa Ransom came in. Northern Iowa responded with a double and a home run by King to even the score.

Both teams used a carousel of pitchers, as Reichling finished out the game for the Cyclones after Ransom’s one inning. The Panthers started Uju Ibekwe, switched to freshman Liz Adams and completed the win with freshman Amanda Hess.

“We’ve got to figure something out with our pitching. We need more innings for Kristen because we need her for the Big 12,” Crowe said.

Reichling took the loss and dropped her record to 6-6, while Hess nabbed the Panther win and also evened her record at 4-4.

The Cyclones, 12-18 overall and 0-4 in the Big 12, face a looming challenge at No. 16 Missouri, who are 27-6 on the season and 1-3 in the conference after a weekend sweep by Oklahoma.

The Tigers are ranked fourth in the Big 12 in batting with a collective .321 average.