FORT COLLINS, Colo., -- The Loyola Marymount softball team won its first game of the NISC Championships on Friday after coming back from a 5-1 deficit against Iowa State University in Fort Collins, Colo. 
 
The Lions started the first game of the championship series off to a slow start, as the Cyclones quickly put two runs on the board in the first inning. 
 
The Lions responded in the top of the third, as Delanie Wisz doubled down the right field line, and then advanced to third after a single up the middle from Riley Ehlen. Wisz then scored on a wild pitch, to put the Lions on the board. 
 
Iowa State extended its lead in the bottom of the third, putting two more runs on the board, and then taking a 5-1 lead after scoring another run in the bottom of the fourth. 
 
The momentum changed for the Lions after Ehlen hit a homerun in the top of the fifth, her eighth of the season, while the Cyclones went scoreless after the fourth inning. 
 
Down 5-2, Sierra Marshall was walked, and then advanced to second when Molly Grumbo reached first base on an error. A sacrifice fly from Maddison Flores sent Marshall to third and Grumbo to second. 
 
With runners on second and third, Irma Sanchez singled to left field, sending Marshall home and advancing Grumbo to third. Grumbo scored after Delanie Wisz hit a sacrifice fly, to make it a 5-4 game. 
 
At the top of the seventh, Andrea Gonzalez doubled to right field. With two outs, Marshall walked, and then Grumbo reached first on an error. 
 
With bases loaded, Flores hit a single to right field to send Grumbo and Marshall home, giving the Lions a 6-5 lead over the Cyclones to close out the game. 
 
The Lions had nine hits, compared the Cyclones' six. Flores, Ehlen and Gonzalez all went 2-4 at the plate, while Wisz went 1-2. 
 
Hannah Bandimere started for the Lions, pitching 2.1 innings, allowing four hits and four runs. Samantha Manti came in and picked up her 15^thwin of the season, as she pitched 4.2 innings, allowing only two hits and one run. 
 
The Lions will be back in action on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. to take on the winner of the UT Arlington and Liberty game. The winner of tomorrow's game will play on Sunday at noon.