MACOMB, Ill. – Jennifer Garcia, Julie DePolo and Amy Douglas each went 2-for-3 in an eight-inning game two of the Western Illinois doubleheader home opener, as Iowa State took two victories from the Westerwinds.

"We really needed someone to step up and get it done today," said Western Illinois head coach Holly Van Vlymen.

Taking a 3-1 win over the Westerwinds (7-16) in game one, the Cyclones (16-22) started the scoring in the first inning and added two more runs in the third inning off a wild pitch and a double.

Western Illinois battled back in the fourth inning when Erin Schlotfeldt doubled to left field and Rachel Sinks pinch ran for Schlotfeldt, stole third and scored the only run of the game on a throwing error.

Kamren Ferguson suffered her third loss of the season, bringing her record to 3-4, while Iowa State's Alyssa Ransom captured both wins on the day, taking her record to 5-8. Each team's pitcher gave up seven hits and only one walk.

"Kamren has improved since the last game, but she still needs to have better starts," said Van Vlymen. "I know she'll come out strong this weekend."

Going 2-for-3 Lindsey Hession led at the plate for the Westerwinds, while Schlotfeldt had the only Western Illinois double and was 1-for-3.

In the nightcap, Western Illinois took an early 3-0 lead over the Cyclones with three-straight innings of scoring. Julie DePolo popped up a sacrifice fly to center field to score Garcia, who doubled to right field.

Heagney scored on a wild pitch in the second inning and Garcia hit a home run for the Westerwinds in the third inning.

Iowa State's Johnson hit a home run to start the sixth inning and put the Cyclones on the board for the first time. An additional run started to close the gap, when in the seventh inning Johnson hit a double and scored teammate Kristy Olsen.

Tying the game at three, a Cyclones' Alex Johnson double to left field brought home the runner on second to take the game into extra innings. Iowa State scored two runs in the eighth inning to take a 5-3 victory over Western.

Christine Drankiewicz(0-3) suffered the loss in one and two-thirds innings of work, while Iowa State's Ransom went in as relief for Charissa Carlin in the sixth inning to earn credit for her second win on the day.

Overall, Douglas led at the plate going 3-for-6 and Garcia went 3-for-7 with a home run, a double and an RBI.

"Our goal was to come back in the second game," said Van Vlymen. "We had a great start, in the later innings we had runners in scoring position and just didn't step up. Kim had a great, but she needs to stay strong in the later innings. The battle is on for the conference title and we will come out ready to play 'our game' against Centenary."

The Westerwinds will return to action with a three-game conference series against Centenary at Western Illinois' Mary Ellen McKee Stadium starting Friday, Mar. 23 at 3 p.m.