Over the last two weekends, the softball team had opposite results. Its first tournament went undefeated, the latter without a single win.

The Cyclones (7-7) fell in each of their four games at the Samford/UAB tournament held over the weekend. This was a change of pace for the team, as they went 5-0 the weekend before in the Tennessee State tournament.

“It’s definitely disappointing,” outfielder Cathlin Bingham said. “But I don’t think [the Samford/UAB tournament] defines us. Just like the weekend before with all the wins, that didn’t define us.”

Throughout the three-day tournament, Iowa State played four teams: Indiana, UAB, Samford and Murray State. Each game was played in Birmingham, Alabama.

Defensive issues were common in the tournament. Relief pitchers were called in every game Iowa State played over the weekend. In the previous tournament, the Cyclones scored first every game played. Within all four games in Birmingham, the opposing team scored first, making it more of a challenge for the Cyclones to fight back.

“We had probably one inning in each game that almost kind of defined that game,” head coach Jamie Trachsel said. “We actually played better the other innings, but all it takes in our sport is that one inning to really change the game and we ran into that a couple of times.”

Trachsel credited one of the main issues to defense being unable to make plays this past weekend that they have been capable of before.

“When your defense isn’t making those plays that is has, or that it needs to make, we give other opportunities to the other team,” Trachsel said.

Trachsel did mention that relief pitchers were key players in each game, and that she believed they did the best out of all players.

Although the team did have downfalls in the tournament, some team members have ideas how to change their habits to grow as players and to avoid some of the mistakes made over the weekend in the future.

“Definitely we’re going to work on our execution, because most of the games I feel like we got out-executed,” Bingham said. “The more we can perfect that, the more successful we’re going to be.”

Pitcher Bri Weilbacher is looking forward to the team’s next opportunity to play, as they prepare for the St. George Red Desert Classic. The tournament is set to be held in St. George, Utah, this coming weekend.

“[I’m looking forward to] seeing how the team bounces back, because I know we’re going to,” Weilbacher said. “[Also, to] not let last weekend affect us, and come out as a fresh start.”