Erin Woods has been re-writing the Iowa State softball record book this week. The senior catcher set the ISU single season home run record last week and then belted her 16th career long ball to break the Cyclone all-time record.

“It feels pretty good [to break the record], but it feels even better that we’re putting it together and winning some games,” Woods said.

Woods’ eighth home run this season led ISU to a 6-1 victory over Drake. The Cyclones also took the first game of the double header 3-0 behind the pitching of Mandy Loushin.

Loushin struck out eight bulldogs in seven innings while allowing only one fluke single. Loushin improved her record to 11-12 on the season after nearly throwing the no-hitter.

“Mandy was just doing her job and took control,” Woods said. “She was really aggressive and just dominated today.”

In the first game, ISU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Lauren Cathey led off the inning with a single to left field and advanced to second on a Kim Hoover sacrifice. A double by Michelle Junod scored Cathey for what would eventually be the winning run.

Loushin proceeded to strike out the side in the third inning, and ISU tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Jessica Polo drew a lead-off walk, and Cathey added a double. Hoover also reached on a walk to load the bases for Junod.

With Amy Crittendon running at third base, Junod hit into a fielder’s choice as Crittendon was forced out at the plate. However, the Cyclones were undaunted, and Robyn Riedler came through with an RBI single. Kimi Yoshizawa followed with an RBI groundout to give ISU a 3-0 lead.

That pretty much sealed the fate for Drake since Loushin was at the top of her game and didn’t allow a Bulldog runner past second base.

In the second contest of the day, ISU benefited from stellar pitching once again. Kristin Ferguson upped her record to 9-10 after tossing a four-hit game.

The Cyclones pounded the ball in the second inning and knocked starting pitcher Carol Thompson out of the game. Cinnamon Gooding started the rally by smacking a double to right field. Laura Browning followed with a single and stole second to put runners at second and third.

After Kristin Shipley drew a walk to load the bases, Yoshizawa came through in the clutch with an RBI single. Lisa Frank and Junod duplicated Yoshizawa’s feat with run-scoring singles to give ISU a 3-0 lead.

“I think that we are always capable [of scoring runs], and now it’s just finally starting to come through,” Woods said.

Drake would add a run in the fourth inning, but ISU would respond by scoring again in the fifth. Jessica Polo and Gooding both recorded singles to put runners at first and second.

With Crittendon pinch running for Polo, Hoover lined a single up the middle to score Crittendon after an impressive slide at the plate to avoid the tag.

The Cyclones would add fuel to the fire in the sixth inning by scoring twice more to take a 6-1 lead. Junod laid down a perfect bunt to reach and came across to score on Woods’ record-breaking home run.

Woods crushed a 2-2 pitch well beyond the left field wall to seal the win for the Cyclones.

Iowa State moves to 21-26 on the season and is riding a six-game winning streak.

“We feel like we have something to prove because we are a more viable force in the Big 12 than our record indicates right now,” head coach Ruth Crowe said. “Last week after Baylor, we realized that it is possible to win the rest of our games. It’s just going to take all three parts of our game: our pitching, defense and hitting.”

The Cyclones resume action on May 1 when they travel to Missouri for a Big 12 battle.