CEDAR FALLS — It’s been a while since the ISU softball team produced some hits and got a victory.

That’s just what the Cyclones did Wednesday as they scored seven runs in the first two innings on six hits to cruise by Northern Iowa 9-1.

Iowa State improved to 10-22 overall and snapped a five-game losing streak. Northern Iowa fell to 9-23 on the season.

The Cyclones took the season series, as Iowa State won the first game April 1 in Ames, 8-0.

“I really didn’t anticipate this kind of game,” ISU head coach Ruth Crowe said of her team’s offensive output. “I just couldn’t because I think UNI has a good club. I just didn’t anticipate that we would come out and hit so well. A lot of our hitters have really worked very hard consistently throughout the season, and they’re getting better.”

With two outs in the first inning, Ashley Killeen got on base with a walk, and Jessica Quade reached base when hit by a pitch. Misty Kimura belted a 1-0 pitch over the left-field fence to give the Cyclones a 3-0 lead. It was her team-leading fifth home run of the season.

Iowa State scored four runs in the second inning, capped off by a Cary Akins two-run single. The Cyclones would round out their scoring in the fourth as Killeen hit a two-run double to score Julia Lindsey and Akins.

Lindsey, Akins and Killeen went a combined 6-for-8 at the plate and drove in five runs.

Akins said the team was confident at the plate in the win.

“I think confidence and aggression were the keys today,” she said. “We came into this game really confident, obviously, after beating UNI before. We knew that the pitchers were kind of a little below us, so we came out really aggressive with our bats. I think that helped us out a lot.”

Crowe said the three-run homer by Kimura really lifted the team.

“I think it really helped in the first inning that we’re able to get Missy Kimura to drive the ball like that for us,” Crowe said. “We need some people like that to step up, and then we can compete.”

Northern Iowa’s lone run came in the top of the fourth inning when Rachael Rogers hit a 0-1 pitch from Cyclone starter Katie Reichling over the left-center field fence.

Despite allowing the home run, Reichling was in command the whole game. The freshman right-hander threw 53 total pitches, allowed only three Panthers hits and struck out two batters.

“Katie Reichling did a great job,” Crowe said. “She’s an Iowa kid from Johnston, and she has really come in this year. She wasn’t really anticipated to be someone who would be pitching a lot for us. I think she has turned into a quality Division I pitcher, and she’s only going to get better and better.”

Looking ahead

The Cyclones won’t get any time off as they will host instate rival Iowa at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Southwest Athletic Complex.

Iowa comes into the game with a 27-15 overall mark and is 8-0 in Big 10 play. Hawkeyes pitcher Lisa Birocci was named Big 10 Pitcher of the Week this week. She picked up two wins in Iowa’s conference sweep of Purdue last weekend.

Akins said Iowa will be a different team than when the Cyclones took on the Hawkeyes during the fall season.

“It’s always been close,” Akins said. “When you play a team in the fall and see them again in the spring, you always expect them to be a level higher. Hopefully, we can come out and relax, knowing that we beat them a couple of times in the fall, but we also need to raise the level of our game a little bit more.”

Crowe is hoping her team’s win against Northern Iowa will carry some momentum into the game against Iowa.

“Hopefully, it [will] get some people to relax and feel a little bit better on where they are,” Crowe said. “Thursday will be a big game with Iowa because I think they’re leading the Big 10 right now. We just want to get back on track.”