Coming off a string of four losses, the ISU softball team showed improvement Thursday but fell short in a make-up doubleheader against Nebraska.

The Cornhuskers handed the Cyclones two losses on their home field, 11-3 and 8-4.

“I thought they did a good job,” said ISU Head Coach Ruth Crowe. “They came in and didn’t give up.”

The games were originally scheduled for April 5, but were suspended in early innings due to rain.

ISU entered the first game with a second-inning 8-0 disadvantage, and tallied just five runs total compared with Nebraska’s twelve.

“We’re giving up a lot of runs, and you can’t do that and expect to win against good teams,” Crowe said.

The Cyclones held Nebraska offensively until the top of the fourth when Cornhusker Jamie Smith ripped a home run over the left field fence.

ISU answered the charge in its half of the fourth after Nease reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced on a passed ball. She then scored on the second baseman’s error.

Nebraska again threatened the Cyclones with the bats, but ISU fought back in the bottom of the fifth.

First baseman Erin Woods and second baseman Robyn Riedler both singled, and catcher Brenna Miller drove them in, bringing the score to 10-3.

Nebraska held the Cyclones and scored another in the sixth to seal the victory, 11-3.

Senior Debbie Nease took the loss, striking out seven, walking five and giving up nine earned runs.

Senior Courtney Dully opened game two with a hot hand, striking out seven consecutive batters in the first three innings.

But the Husker offense lit up in the top of the fourth as Nebraska’s Jennifer Lizama homered and two more hits gave the Cornhuskers a 2-0 lead.

Dully then recovered, striking out three batters in a row to close the inning. ISU again lapsed briefly in the fifth when Nebraska loaded the bases on walks.

A Cyclone error brought in two runs, and two RBIs put Nebraska up, 6-0.

Freshman Robyn Riedler relieved Dully on the mound in the sixth.

The Cornhuskers managed to score two more, but ISU made a run in bottom half of the sixth, scoring four unearned runs.

Nebraska managed to recover and run away with a second defeat, 8-4.

Crowe commended Dully’s early performance. She also gave Riedler credit for an impressive pitching debut.

“Dully did a very good job starting the game out,” she said. “I think it’s hard because sometimes there’s this pressure that you have to keep things going.”

“I really wanted to give Robyn Riedler an opportunity since she hasn’t pitched all year,” Crowe said.

ISU slides to 15-19 overall and 1-9 in the Big 12 conference.

They return to the Southwest Athletic Complex for both parents’ and senior weekend on April 26th and 27th, facing Oklahoma State on Saturday and Oklahoma on Sunday.

The Cyclones have five seniors on the team this year.

“We have a big weekend ahead of us. These are our last home Big 12 games. It’s going to be an emotional weekend,” Crowe said.