After spending two weeks on the sidelines because of bad weather, the Iowa State softball team didn’t let the cold weather affect its performance in an afternoon double-header against the University of Missouri-Kansas City at home Wednesday afternoon.

“It was nice to play again,” ISU Head Softball Coach Ruth Crowe said.

The Cyclones managed to sweep the Kangaroos with scores of 7-2 and 5-0.

Debbie Nease pitched the opener and carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning before giving up a single to center field by Lisa Buelt with one out in the inning.

The Kangaroos tallied a couple of runs when freshman designated hitter Jennifer Heavener hit a two-run homer to right field with two away.

Nease allowed two runs on two hits, striking out one and walking no one in seven innings.

Nease helped herself out by going three-for-three at the plate in the first game and driving in a run. Included in the three hits were a pair of doubles.

Senior catcher Brenna Miller also had a pair of hits for the Cyclones, scoring and driving in a run.

The Cyclones struck first in the second inning. Miller singled to open the inning and stole second. Centerfielder Missy Danilson followed with a double to left field which drove in Miller. Nease followed with a double of her own to center field, giving the Cyclones runners at second and third with no outs.

Raven Coberg followed with a single to center field, driving in Danilson and giving the Cyclones runners at the corners.

The Cyclones struck again in the fifth inning when sophomore first baseman Erin Woods opened the inning with a triple off the wall in right field.

Freshman infielder Jessica Polo followed with a one-out single to center, bringing in Woods. Miller followed with her second hit when she had a single to left field that advanced Miller to second.

Nease drove in Polo with a two-out single to give the Cyclones a 4-0 lead.

Iowa State rounded out its scoring in the bottom of the sixth inning. Freshman Lauren Koelemay walked to open the inning. Senior Jeannie Lobel sacrificed Koelemay to second on a bunt to the third baseman.

The Cyclones were able to load the bases after a pair of fielding errors by Kangaroo infielders.

Polo reached base by fielder’s choice after Koelemay scored on the second error of the inning by the Kangaroos’ third baseman, allowing Woods to score from third base.

Miller followed with a sacrifice fly to left field, allowing Robyn Riedler to score and giving the Cyclones a 7-0 lead with two outs.

In the nightcap, senior southpaw Courtney Dully pitched five and two-thirds innings of no-hit ball before Buelt once again broke up the no-hitter with a single to center field.

Coberg led the team at the plate by going two-for-two, scoring once and driving in a run.

The Cyclones opened the scoring once again beginning in the second inning.

Miller reached base and advanced to second on a fielding error by the Kangaroos’ right fielder. She advanced to third on a passed ball. Nease, filling the designated hitter’s role, walked and stole second, putting both Cyclone runners in scoring position.

Coberg followed with a single which drove in Miller and advanced Nease to third. Danilson followed with a fielder’s choice that drove Nease home. Senior Angie McRell singled in front of the second baseman while driving in Coberg from third.

Dully struck out 11 Kangaroos and walked five in seven innings.

“Both (pitchers) did well,” Crowe said. “But they struggled with their control.”

“Defensively we played well,” she said. “And I think that helped them out.

“I thought we did a good job stringing hits together late in the innings in both games,” Crowe said. “I thought Debbie Nease, (Raven) Coberg, and Jessica Polo hit well.”

Next home action for the Cyclones will be a doubleheader against cross-state rival Iowa on April 22. Game time is 3 p.m. at Cap Timm Field.