Despite the powerful wind Wednesday was a beautiful day for a ball game – or two. But for the ISU softball team, it wasn’t so pretty.

The Cyclones lost both games of a double header against the University of Missouri-Kansas City, 6-2 and 7-2, at the Southwest Athletic Complex.

The losses extended Iowa State’s losing streak to six games and proved the Cyclones may have to work on their offense in the coming week.

“You don’t hit, you don’t win,” ISU head coach Ruth said. “And we didn’t hit. We are inconsistent, and [UMKC is] a good team.”

The losses dropped the Cyclones to 13-15 while the Kangaroos evened out their record at 19-19.

Iowa State took an early lead in the first game when Heather McLatchie scored on a base hit by left-fielder Kelly Wardein.

ISU pitcher Erica Martinez held the opposition scoreless until the fifth inning, when Missouri-Kansas City opened the floodgates.

A two-run single by Jill Dolan, put UMKC ahead. Iowa State gave up another run in the fifth inning, and two more in the sixth on a home run by Amanda Rice.

The Kangaroos added another run in the seventh when a fast-ball third strike allowed the runner to advance home.

The Cyclones attempted a rally in the bottom half of the seventh inning, but managed only one run on a double by Martinez.

With the loss, Martinez dropped to 6-8 on the year.

Crowe got a little frustrated with her team as the game played on. She made several substitutions in the final innings and rearranged her starting lineup a bit for the second game, looking for any kind of offensive production she could get.

“I was just trying anybody,” she said.

It looked like the move might pay off.

ISU pitcher Jen Bice struck out two batters in the first inning, and Martinez scored on a double by first baseman Lindsey Herrin to make it 1-0 to start the second game.

Bice had retired 10 batters in a row going into the fifth inning, when UMKC’s Chrystal Vega led off with a home run to left field.

Bice then retired six Kangaroos in a row to get her team to the final inning, when things fell apart.

Amanda Rice led off the inning for the Kangaroos with a solo shot to left field.

With the bases loaded, Kari Thurman launched a grand slam to increase the UMKC lead to 7-1.

Iowa State again tried to rally in the bottom half of the seventh when shortstop Julia Lindsey doubled to left field, and then moved to third on a grounder by third-baseman Adi Blackmon.

Martinez drove Lindsey in with a double that just missed clearing the fence.

The next two ISU batters grounded out to stop the rally and seal the UMKC win.

Bice took the loss on the mound to drop her record to 7-7 on the season.

Despite her success in the earlier innings, Bice said there can be improvements made on her performance.

“The pitches weren’t terrible, but they weren’t my best either,” she said.