A 1-0 loss to Texas at the Big 12 tournament in Oklahoma City May 2 ended the Cyclone softball team’s 1997 season.

Iowa State entered first-round competition ranked 10th in the conference with two prior losses to the seventh-seeded Longhorns.

Despite its odds, ISU merited an intense performance, turning the contest into a nail-biter.

Cyclone assistant coach Cara Coughenour said overall the victory could have gone to either team.

“I think a 1-0 score indicates a very good game,” she said.

A lack of offensive strength plagued the team against Texas, as it often had throughout the season. “Our hitting wasn’t as good as it should have been,” Coughenour said.

“Neither team hit exceptionally well, but [Texas] ended up scoring, and we didn’t.”

Sophomore Erin Woods opened the first inning with a single, but the Cyclones couldn’t follow Woods’ lead.

Junior Jaime Kahler and freshman Robyn Riedler each singled in the third, but ISU couldn’t capitalize as Texas pitcher Christy Guidorizzi held the team at three hits for the remainder of the game.

“We needed to put some hits together instead of getting a hit here and there,” Coughenour said.

Cyclone defense held tight as freshman pitcher Riedler allowed just three hits before senior Debbie Nease relieved her in the fifth inning.

Texas, however, surpassed the Cyclones in the fifth as Nikki Cockrell’s RBI triple broke the deadlocked score. The Longhorns retained control in the closing innings to edge out ISU.

Riedler took the loss, striking out three Longhorn batters and walking three.

Coughenour said Riedler, whose pitching debut occurred late this season, gave a solid effort at the tournament. She said Riedler’s stability earned her a starting spot on the mound.

“At the time, she was the one pitching consistently,” she said. “She was doing a job on the mound that we wanted.”

The Cyclones finished the season with an overall record of 17-23 and 1-13 in the Big 12. Texas was knocked out of the competition in later rounds, and number one seed Missouri took home the tournament title.