The Iowa softball team fell to Iowa State, 4-3, in Ames on Wednesday night.

The Hawkeyes were up 3-2 going into the final frame, but junior starter Chelsea Lyon faltered in the seventh to give up the tying run and load the bases. She was relieved by Kayla Massey mid-inning, but it was too little, too late; Cyclone first baseman Erica Miller hit a 1-2 pitch to drive in the winning run.

"It’s heartbreaking," head coach Marla Looper said in a release. "We stayed in control most of that ballgame, [but] unfortunately, that last inning we got a little predictable on the mound and battery."

Iowa broke the school record for runs during its last contest against Iowa State, as the Hawkeyes crossed the plate 26 times on Feb. 18.

It wasn’t all bad for Iowa, though, as the team’s power hitting had it in prime position to win the game. All three of Iowa’s scores came from single-shot home runs. Seniors Katie Keim (6) and Liz Watkins (2) each smacked one over the fence, as did freshman Megan Blank (2).

— by Ben Ross