After splitting two contests on Saturday, the Iowa State softball team dropped both of its games on Sunday in the Southwest Missouri State Spring Classic.

The Cyclones dropped to 4-7 overall but did manage to defeat the hosts in their opening game of the tournament. Iowa State defeated Southwest Missouri State 7-0 behind the home run power of Erin Woods and Jessica Polo.

In the second inning, Lauren Cathey started the scoring for ISU by doubling to left center field and then alertly scoring on an error by the third baseman. In the ensuing inning, Woods belted her third dinger of the season to give ISU a 3-0 lead.

Laura Browning showed some athleticism in the fifth inning by tripling to right field and then displayed some speed in stealing home. The Cyclones put the game out of reach in the sixth as Polo connected for her first home run of the season. Michelle Junod and Browning added RBIs to round out the scoring and gave ISU a 7-0 victory.

Mandy Loushin tossed the shutout and gave up only four hits to extend her record to 3-1 on the season.

In their second game of the tournament, the Cyclones ran into some tough times and lost a 4-0 decision to Mississippi. Even though ISU out-hit the Bulldogs 10-9, Mississippi was able to capitalize on its opportunities to post the shutout.

Woods, Polo and Junod had two hits apiece, but the Cyclones couldn’t manage to push any runs across. Kristin Ferguson remained winless after dropping her third decision of the season.

Iowa State didn’t fare much better the following day in its rematch with Ole Miss. The Cyclones broke into the scoring column first after singles by Browning and Kim Hoover, followed by a single by Alexis Quijano to knock in Browning.

However, Mississippi responded with seven unanswered runs to take a 7-1 lead in to the top of the seventh. Iowa State attempted a comeback in the final frame, but it was too little, too late for the ‘Clones.

Lisa Frank doubled after a Quijano walk, and Cinnamon Gooding collected an RBI by hitting a sacrifice fly to score Quijano. Robyn Riedler singled to plate Frank, but that’s all ISU could muster, making the final score 7-3. Mandy Loushin was tagged with the loss after giving up all seven runs and striking out five.

Iowa State’s bats went silent in the finale as they were blanked by Southwest Missouri State, 2-0. Tacy Riddle took the mound for ISU and allowed both runs on seven hits to get the loss. Browning, Frank, Hoover, Riedler and Quijano each collected hits for the Cyclones.

Iowa State returns to action March 11-14 for the Florida State Tournament in Tallahassee.