Finishing with a 13-31 record wouldn’t give most teams much confidence for next year. The ISU softball team may be an exception.

“We only lose three people from the team,” senior Julia Lindsey said. “The core is still intact for next year.”

Lindsey, named the team’s co-most valuable player with freshman pitcher Alyssa Ransom, is one of the Cyclone’s only departing players and said she sees a bright future for Cyclone softball.

“We meshed really well this year,” she said. “We did it a little later than usual, but we really came together at the end of the season.”

The Cyclones finished up their season with a Big 12 tournament loss to Texas. The Longhorns, seeded eighth, scored runs in the second and fifth innings in their 2-0 victory.

Ransom had four strikeouts and walked only one for the Cyclones. Christina Gwyn threw a complete game for the Longhorns, giving up only two hits.

“I’m disappointed that I’m done playing,” Lindsey said. “I don’t really have the patience [to be a coach]. I’ll just play if there’s an opportunity.”

The Cyclones’ loss to Texas followed a two-game series at Kansas on May 8-9. Iowa State split the series with the Jayhawks with a 3-2 win Saturday and a 3-1 loss Sunday to finish the regular season.

Another departing senior, Kelly Wardein, was named the team’s best defensive player and was given the Golden Glove award. Other team award recipients were Misty Kimura for the most improved player, Lindsey for best offensive player, Heather McLatchie was given the Arsenal Award for best contribution off the bench and Amber Wood was given the CyPride award for her dedication to the team.