The Iowa State Softball team brings a rare combination of youth and experience into the upcoming season.

The Cyclones lost only one player from last year’s team, which fielded a 16-27 record. They are faced with the same situation this season with only one senior on the roster.

Head coach Ruth Crowe said many members of this season’s team saw significant time on the field as sophomores and freshmen last year and will bring experience and leadership into this season.

Crowe is entering her third year as Iowa State’s softball coach and has brought about steady improvement. In her first season, the Cyclones finished last in the Big 12 Conference with a 1-13 record, but improved the following season going 5-11 in the conference and 1-2 in the Big 12 tournament.

That record, however, may be deceiving because of the difficulty of the Big 12 Conference.

Four of the ten teams in the Big 12 advanced to the NCAA tournament last year, and three of those teams made it to the College World Series. Only eight teams make it to the exclusive College World Series out of the 200 plus teams in the country — proving just how difficult the Cyclones’ conference is.

“We are hoping to finish in the top half of the conference,” Coach Crowe said. “That would give us a very good chance of making the NCAA tournament.”

The Cyclones will be led by their only senior, Erin Woods. Woods hit .279 last season and led the team with nine stolen bases while handling the catching duties. This summer, Woods was also a member of the Canadian National Team.

Michelle Junod, a junior second baseman, led the team with a .289 average and was 2nd team All-Conference.

Top returning pitchers for the Cyclones this season include junior Mandy Loushin and sophomore Kristin Ferguson. Last year, Loushin led the team with 11 wins. She posted a 1.64 ERA while completing 21 of the 22 games she started as a sophomore.

Ferguson led the team with a 1.58 ERA and was second on the team with five wins.

The Cyclones begin play on September 12 and 13 with the Iowa State Softball Invitational. ISU will play in three tournaments this fall, which Crowe said will give the younger players a chance to “show their stuff” and prepare for the spring season.