Despite strong pitching performances from Mandy Loushin, the Iowa State softball team dropped its first four Big 12 contests. The Cyclones fell to 12-18 after losing three of its four games this weekend by a single run.

No. 14 Texas overpowered ISU in the first game by a score of 8-3. The Longhorns jumped out to an early 6-0 lead before the Cyclones got on the board in the fifth inning.

With two runners aboard, Erin Woods ripped a single down the left field line to drive in Laura Browning. Amy Crittendon alertly scored after the left fielder committed an error to plate ISU’s second run. Tiffany Cornine added an RBI of her own by singling to right, which scored Woods.

However, Texas stormed back in the bottom of the inning with two runs of its own to put the game away. Kristen Ferguson took the loss for ISU to drop to 5-7 on the season. Jessica Polo and Browning also recorded hits in the loss.

In the second game of the day, Texas took advantage of ISU’s inability to score and posted a 1-0 victory.

Loushin only allowed five hits, but the Cyclones only managed three of their own in the shutout. Kristen Shipley, Lisa Frank and Browning each contributed a hit as the Cyclones failed to give Loushin any run support.

The ensuing day led to even more frustration when ISU fell to Texas A&M 1-0 in eight innings. Cinnamon Gooding and Frank collected the Cyclones’ only hits as their offensive futility continued. Loushin was tagged with the loss once again after giving one run on seven hits.

In the second game of the doubleheader, ISU got out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first.

Frank scored on Gooding’s single to left field, but the Cyclone lead was short-lived as the Aggies responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning.

Texas A&M padded its lead with another run in the second to take a 3-1 lead. However, Iowa State would respond by scoring a run in the fourth inning. Woods smashed a double to left field and then scored on a Polo single to center field.

Neither team was able to plate a run for the remainder of the game as the final score ended at 3-2 in favor of the Aggies.

Lauren Cathey collected a hit in the loss, while Loushin dropped to 6-8 on the season after giving up three runs on three hits. Iowa State will begin its home season on April 6 at the Southwest Athletic Complex.

The Cyclones will battle intrastate rival Northern Iowa in a doubleheader with the first game beginning at 3 p.m.