The Cyclone softball team scattered a total of 13 hits Sunday against Missouri but was unable to leave Columbia with a win as the Cyclones dropped a doubleheader, 2-1 and 6-1.

Shortstop Jessica Polo was ISU’s offensive weapon with a 5-8 performance at the plate. Head Coach Ruth Crowe said the freshman was one of few highlights over the weekend.

“Jessica Polo played very well both offensively and defensively,” she said. “Robyn Riedler also played well—I was very pleased with the two young freshmen.”

But Crowe said weakened pitching and a lack of key hits were the team’s downfalls.

“We couldn’t come up with key hits,” she said. “That’s what it’s all about, and that’s basically where we are.”

Senior pitchers Courtney Dully and Debbie Nease have compiled a total of 20 walks in the past four games, a number Crowe said shouldn’t be reached at the Division I level.

“I was very disappointed with our pitching,” she said.

“We’re not very mentally tough right now.”

In the first inning of game one, Miller and second baseman Riedler reached on a walk and an error, respectively. Polo advanced the runners with a single, but the Tigers held ISU and answered in the second inning, scoring on an error to gain a 1-0 lead.

The Cyclones bounced back in the third when Riedler crunched a double and advanced to third on Polo’s single.

ISU was again in scoring position with the bases loaded after Nease reached on the third baseman’s error, but Missouri’s solid defense stopped the charge to close the inning.

Iowa State stayed tough in the fourth and snapped the scoring dry spell as first baseman Erin Woods scored on a passed ball to break even, 1-1.

But the Tigers merited another run in their half of the fourth and edged out further Cyclone efforts to take the game, 2-1.

Mindy Penrod, Woods and Missy Danilson contributed a single each, Riedler added a double and Polo chipped in two hits for the Cyclones. Pitcher Courtney Dully took the loss, striking out five batters, allowing two unearned runs and giving up just two hits.

ISU was out for revenge as Polo and Woods turned out singles in the first inning of the second game. Starting designated hitter Tiffany Cornine and Riedler singled and Miller doubled to keep the spark going. In addition, Polo notched two more singles. The game, however, remained scoreless until Missouri rallied in the third, racking up five runs on four hits and one ISU error. The Tigers picked up another run in the fourth on Christy Skouby’s RBI. The Cyclones again had trouble responding until the fifth inning when Danilson batted in Polo.

But the Tigers kept their advantage and shut down ISU, 6-1. Dully, who pitched 2.2 innings before Nease took over, suffered the loss. She gave up five runs, two of which were unearned, and three hits. Nease finished the contest, allowing four hits and one earned run.

Iowa State falls to 15-17 overall and 1-7 in the Big 12, while Missouri jumps to 41-11 and 13-3 in conference play.

The Cyclones will defend their home field against Iowa in Tuesday’s doubleheader at 3 p.m.