Despite an 0-3 start last weekend at the UNLV Invitational, the ISU softball team expects better results this go-around.

The Cyclones travel to the College of Charleston in South Carolina this weekend for a chance to defeat four opponents without such high rankings. Last weekend, Iowa State lost to UNLV, No. 1 California and No. 16 Florida.

“There are good losses and there are bad losses, and our first weekend we had ranked teams against us,” said ISU coach Ruth Crowe. “We got better throughout those three teams, and we played right with Florida. Even losing zero to five to the No. 1 team isn’t bad.”

The Cyclones hope the outcome of last weekend was not a precursor of games to come.

“Our outlook is promising, and just by staying with those teams, especially with it being our first time outside, was a big accomplishment,” said sophomore Jessica Quade. “Like Coach said, ‘It’s not the battle with the other teams, it’s the battle within ourselves.'”

Junior Cary Akins said she agreed the second tournament will help evaluate where the Cyclones stand as a team.

“These teams aren’t as prestigious as the others, and now we know what we need to do to get to where we need to be,” she said. “We just have to play our game. We need to take a more mental approach to our hitting and really focus on it. Our defense is really solid right now.”

Players said offense is the thing they hope to improve this season.

“We need to have confidence in ourselves and have a plan every time we go up to bat,” Quade said. “We have to know what we’re doing on every pitch and then follow through with it.”

Crowe cited great defensive efforts from Akins and senior Diana Reuter in last weekend’s games, as well as from sophomore Fallon Johnson. She was pleased with the pitching game, but said it could be more consistent.

“The expectations become higher every weekend, and by the way we are hitting, pitching and so on, we have to gauge our success by that,” Crowe said. “We have to stay competitive and start out knowing we can compete.”

At 10 a.m. on Friday the Cyclones face Virginia Tech, which is boasting an 8-2 record thus far. Freshman pitcher Angela Tincher was recently named a co-ACC Player of the Week after a posting a 2-0 record and an ERA of 0.74.

At 2 p.m. Iowa State takes on 1-4 Pittsburgh. Senior Casey Pickard is paving the way for the Panthers, recently becoming the all-time leader in doubles, with 34.

Iowa State’s first game on Saturday has it facing a 7-5 Winthrop squad under the pitching of junior Shahna Ashard, who recorded her second straight shutout of the season last weekend. The Cyclones wrap up tournament play Saturday at 4 p.m. against host College of Charleston.

“If we get wrapped up in wins and losses, we’ve lost focus of what we’re there to accomplish,” Crowe said.