A couple of early home runs by senior center fielder Taylor Nearad and senior infielder Logan Schaben was all the offense the Cyclones needed to defeat the Portland State Vikings 3-2 on Sunday in Palo Alto, California.

The Vikings got on the board early in the top first inning with Alexxis Ponce hitting an RBI double.

Nearad tied the game for the Cyclones in the bottom of the first inning by hitting a solo home run to right field.

In the top of the second inning Darian Lindsey hit an RBI single and Jessica Flanagan scored to give the Vikings a 2-1 lead over the Cyclones.

At the point, the Vikings’ offense could have put up a lot of runs on the Cyclones. In the bottom of the second inning the Cyclones put in sophomore pitcher Tatum Ksiazek.

The Bondurant, Iowa, native made her debut for the Cyclones on Sunday. She had six strikeouts and allowed no runs and no hits in 5.2 innings pitched.

Schaben hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the second inning that gave the Cyclones a 3-2 victory over the Vikings.

The Cyclones are now 3-5 on the season.

Iowa State will head out east this upcoming week to play in the Holy City Showdown in Charleston, South Carolina.