The Iowa State softball team bounced back from a tough loss to Iowa to come away with 1-0 win and a series split.

The Cyclones dropped the first game by a score of 2-0 but held off the Hawkeyes in the second contest to notch their first home win of the season.

“We played better than we did yesterday and came out with a little more determination,” head coach Ruth Crowe said.

In the opening game ISU had an opportunity to score in the first inning but stranded two runners in scoring position.

“When you play a good team like Iowa you don’t get many chances. In the first inning we had runners on second and third, but we just have to recognize those situations and be more focused,” Crowe said.

Both teams remained scoreless until Iowa capitalized on some costly Cyclone errors to take the lead in the fifth inning.

Mandy Loushin went the distance for ISU but was still tagged with the loss despite only allowing two unearned runs.

The Cyclones just couldn’t string together any hits and ended up being shutout with only four hits.

Erin Woods had a stolen base to go along with a pair of singles, while Laura Browning and Michelle Junod each collected a double.

Iowa State recovered from its first game loss to post an impressive 1-0 victory behind the pitching of Kristin Ferguson and Loushin.

“I was pleased with how we came out in the second game. It is difficult to play back-to-back games,” Crowe said.

Neither the Hawkeyes nor the Cyclones could capitalize in the first two innings, which saw both teams threatening to score.

In the bottom of the fourth inning Junod got ISU started off by reaching first base on an error.

Lauren Cathey floated a single to right-center field to advance Junod to second and put the Cyclones in scoring position.

Designated hitter Kim Hoover collected the game winning RBI by scooting a ground ball up the middle, just beyond the reach of the diving Hawkeye second baseman.

Iowa began to threaten in the fifth inning, but Loushin took the mound in relief to stymie the Hawks.

“I felt like Kristen pitched a great game, but we just needed a change in momentum. Our pitchers did a great job today, and they need to perform like that all of the time because they have the ability,” Crowe said.

Iowa had runners on second and third, but Cathey came up with a huge defensive play and gunned down the runner at first to end the inning.

“She made some great plays today. Lauren has done an excellent job stepping in at third base,” Crowe said.

The Cyclones ended the game in grand fashion when Kristin Shipley made a diving catch in foul territory to record the final out.

“She is another freshman having the confidence to make a big play. She made an all out effort for the ball and made a great catch,” Crowe said.

Junod, Cathey and Hoover were the only Cyclones to connect for hits with Cathey recording a theft of third base.

“We feel like we are really improving. We had a few tough games here, but we are feeling pretty good about ourselves going into this weekend,” Hoover said.