The ISU softball team faced tough competition over the weekend on their way to finishing with a 2-3 record in the San Diego State Tournament.Despite dropping their first three games of the tourney, the Cyclones rebounded in spectacular fashion to end the tournament with two straight wins.Iowa State dropped games to Utah State, Fresno State and Cal State Northridge, but rebounded with wins against New Mexico and Sacramento State.Head coach Ruth Crowe said she was satisfied with the Cyclones’ overall play in the tournament.”I was very happy because the level of competition was extremely high for our first tournament and first time outdoors,” Crowe said. “I would rather have the chance to ease our way into playing top teams, but sometimes scheduling early tournaments out West works out like this.”Fresno State is currently ranked ninth nationally while Cal State Northridge was a 2000 NCAA tournament participant.”I was very pleased with how we played because both Northridge and New Mexico are teams that were mentioned in the top 25 pre-season poll,” Crowe said.The first game of the tourney pitted Iowa State against Utah State. Sophomore Jen Bice took the mound for the Cyclones allowing five runs on 10 hits in the 5-1 loss.Utah State lead the entire game on the way to the win.Newcomer Kelly Wardein led the way offensively for the Cyclones, contributing two doubles and one RBI while five more players also added a hit in the loss.In the second game of the day, the Cyclones met with Fresno State which backed up their national ranking with a 8-0 shutout over Iowa State.Sophomore Erica Martinez took the loss for the ‘Clones allowing seven runs on four hits in 3 1/3 innings of work. Martinez had two hits on the game, including a double while freshmen Wardein, Julia Lindsay and Mindy Ogan each added a hit in only their second game as Cyclones.The third game of the tournament was perhaps Iowa State’s most competitive of the weekend. The Cyclones met Cal State Northridge Saturday, a game which lasted 10 innings before Iowa State fell 8-4.The Cyclones were the first to get on the board scoring one run in the bottom of the third. Iowa State took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth before Cal State Northridge was able to come back and tie the game in the top of the seventh. The Matadors added another run in the top of the ninth before Iowa State answered back with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning.Cal State Northridge broke out in the tenth inning scoring five runs on four hits to take a 8-3 lead.Iowa State scored one run in the bottom of the tenth, but it was not enough as the Matadors won 8-4.Bice worked the mound for 9 2/3 innings allowing eight runs on seven hits while striking out four.The Cyclones recorded six hits on the game, two by Martinez and one each by Kimi Yoshizawa, Amberly Lessenger, Adi Blackmon and Ogan.The next game saw Iowa State record their first win of the season in a 2-0 shutout of New Mexico.Martinez pitched an impressive game, striking out eight Lobos in the shutout. The win increased Martinez’s record to 1-1.”Erica Martinez really had a great tournament and was very consistent at the plate,” Crowe said. “After the Fresno game, she really bounced back strong against a very good team, New Mexico, and pitched a shut out.”Freshman Rainey Eanes led the charge offensively for Iowa State going two for three at the plate while driving in both runs. Lauren Cathey and Wardein also contributed a hit apiece in the win.Martinez continued her consistent play at the plate in the next game of the day which ended the tournament in a 7-5 victory over Sacramento State.A three-run homerun by Martinez in the top of the first inning proved to be the difference in the game.The Cyclones added three more runs in the second inning before Sacramento State scored two runs in the bottom of the second and another in the bottom of the third – all before Iowa State added one more run when a Martinez single scored Blackmon.Two more runs by Sacramento State in the bottom of the seventh was not quite enough to stop Iowa State from holding on to win.Kristin Ferguson recorded the win for the Cyclones allowing five runs on eight hits.”Overall, we hit .255 as a team, and considering the strength of the competition, I was happy about that aspect,” Crowe said. “I felt we were aggressive, and once we put the ball in play, we made things happen with our speed and power. Our younger players did an outstanding job and learned a lot from the experience that will benefit us as the season rolls on.”Iowa State will be back in action Friday when they travel to Las Cruces, N.M. to compete at the New Mexico State Tournament.”I think we just have to keep getting better,” Crowe said. “This next tournament will be another stepping stone for us, and we are excited about getting back on the field.”