The Iowa State softball team dropped game one of a doubleheader at Kansas Tuesday, but rebounded to take the night-cap.

The Cyclones rallied in the seventh inning of game one, trailing 5-0, but were edged 5-4 by the Jayhawks.

Kansas pitcher Beth Robinson managed to shut down the Cyclone offense for the first six innings but was unable to hold Iowa State in the final inning.

Iowa State scored four runs in the seventh, chasing Robinson from the game. Jayhawk reliever Sarah Workman foiled the Cyclone rally, though, as Kansas escaped with a one-run win.

Cyclone pitcher Courtney Dully took the loss, giving up five runs on nine hits through 5.1 innings of work.

The Cyclones came back strong to win game two behind the strong pitching performance of Debbie Nease. Nease recorded the complete game, surrendering only one run to the Jayhawks, and raised her record to 4-4.

Although Nease’s record stands at an even .500, it hardly reflects her efforts on the mound this season.

“She’s one of the leaders on our team,” Iowa State head softball coach Deb Kuhn said. “She’s really starting to come into her own on the mound. She’s also been solid offensively from the third, fourth or fifth spot in the order, and she has great bat speed.”

Nease also doubled in a run as did Cyclone backstop Brenna Miller who has been a workhorse for the Cyclones this season.

“She’s very solid defensively and does a great job handling our pitching staff,” Kuhn said. “She’s now getting back to where she needs to be offensively.”

Iowa State lead off hitter Angie Balakshin drove home the other Cyclone run with a triple.

Cyclone freshman Erin Woods continued to impress coaches and fans alike with a double in game two.

“She’s really surprised a lot of people this season,” Kuhn said. “She’s been producing offensively all year and can do a lot for us on the base paths with her speed.”

Woods said it’s her teammates who have been the biggest factor in her success.

“The team is like a family. That’s why I came here to play,” Woods said. “We’re really like one unit, not a bunch of individuals. The veteran players help a lot and show all the new players the ropes.”

The Cyclones take a 14-11 overall record and a 5-4 conference record into Thursday’s non-conference contest in Iowa City against the intrastate rival Iowa Hawkeyes at 3 pm.