The Iowa State (0-1) softball team dropped its season opener to No. 11 UL-Lafayette (2-0), 9-1 on Friday, its first game under head coach Jamie Trachsel. Iowa State hung around for the first five innings, but the Ragin’ Cajuns proved to be too much for the Cyclones.

Trachsel elected to go with sophomore Savannah Sanders at pitcher for the Cyclones. Iowa State had four freshmen in the starting lineup.

The first two innings were scoreless, but the Ragin’ Cajuns struck first, scoring in the top of the third inning on a Cyclone error.

Iowa State wasted no time answering, knotting the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning.

Nychole Antillon, who led the Cyclones with seven hit by pitches last season, stood strong and was hit by a pitch to advance to first base. Two batters later, Cathlin Bingham reached on a throwing error and Antillon tied up the game on a plate obstruction call.

UL Lafayette regained the lead 2-1 in the top of the fourth inning with a bases-loaded walk. Sanders got herself out of the jam with a strikeout.

The Cyclones committed their second error of the game in the top of the sixth inning, allowing UL-Lafayette to tack on another run to their lead. Later in the inning, Aleah Craighton hit a two-run home run to right field extending the Ragin’ Cajun lead to 5-1.

In the top of the seventh inning, UL-Lafayette pushed their lead to 7-1 on back-to-back RBI singles. The Ragin’ Cajuns capitalized on the third Cyclone error to extend their lead to 9-1.

Sanders finished the night giving up three earned runs on eight hits and eight strikeouts.

The Cyclones will look to bounce back Saturday morning at 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. against DePaul and Southern Miss, respectively.