The ISU softball team closed out the Cyclone Invitational on Sunday with two games against Eastern Illinois and North Dakota. Entering Sunday, the team had been perfect on the weekend. 

The Cyclones won their first game Sunday against Eastern Illinois (3-2 OVC), 5-1, after a strong pitching performance from freshman Savannah Sanders. It was the second time this weekend the two ball clubs met.

Sanders went all six innings (shortened due to mercy rule), striking out 10 Panthers with only one earned run. Sanders had some control issues, walking seven batters, but she showed composure, finding her way out of multiple bases-loaded jams.

Offensively, the Cyclones started off hot as senior Aly Cappaert crushed a two-run home run in the first inning. The Cyclones would score again in the fourth inning when freshman infielder Sally Woolpert drove in two more runs.

The Cyclones would blow it open in the fifth, scoring three more runs. The Cyclones would tack on three more runs in the sixth inning, invoking the mercy rule with a 10-1 victory. 

The second game was against North Dakota (1-3 Big Sky), and the Cyclones fell, 1-0. 

The Fighting Hawks sent out Kaylin VanDomelen, who was lights out in seven innings of work.. VanDomelen was also incredibly efficient, throwing only 84 pitches, striking out four and and not issuing a single walk.

The ISU offense was held in check all game, as the team scattered four hits across seven innings of play. Freshman left-hander Kristine Kimberley allowed only one run with three strikeouts and one walk in five innings of work in her starting debut.

Emma Hylen came in relief for her second game of the year with two strong innings to finish out the game.

North Dakota scored their only run in the first inning off an RBI single by Megan Keegan. VanDomelen continued to attack the ISU batters, as only two Cyclones came up to bat with runners in scoring position. It all proved to be enough for the Fighting Hawks to earn their first win of the season, while also dealing the Cyclones their first loss of the season.

Iowa State conclude the Cyclones Invitational with a 5-1 record to start 2016.