Baseball has a winning weekend against Arkansas State University
February 27, 2001
The ISU baseball team took two out of three games from Arkansas State this weekend. The Cyclones fell Friday to the Indians, 4-2, then came back to win the next two Saturday and Sunday by scores of 6-5 and 3-1 at Tomlinson Stadium in Arkansas State University, Ark.T.J. Bohn went 3 for 4 at the plate for Iowa State in Friday’s matchup. “I always seem to hit when there is more pressure on me. When we’re down, I seem to concentrate more,” Bohn said in light of the loss.Rob Conway began a big weekend as he drove in the Cyclones’ only runs in the third inning. He ripped a two-out double to left-center field that scored Ryan Wickham who reached on a fielder’s choice, and Bohn, who had gotten on base on one of his hits.But the Indians came back in the next inning with singles by Kent Brunen and Dusty Sexton that tied the game.In the sixth inning, Brock Buckingham hit a single that scored Kyle Brunen to give Arkansas State a lead that it would never relinquish.The Indians followed with one more run in the following inning when Allen Mazzanti singled to score Nick Martin.Charly Bigwood (0-2) gave up all four runs on 10 hits and committed four errors in the game that lasted just over two hours. Bigwood struck out six Indian batters.In Saturday’s game, it was Conway’s turn to step up for the Cyclones. He went 3 for 4 in the narrow win.Iowa State was the first to get on the scoreboard in this game as Spencer Allen singled to left field to score Brent Koen and Brandon Cashman, both who had walked.After Arkansas State responded with a run in the bottom half of that inning, Adam Christ, who scored another run in the third inning as Bohn grounded into a double play, doubled in the fifth inning. Conway then doubled himself for his second hit of the game and scored Christ.Martin retaliated for the Indians in the seventh inning when he singled to score Kent Brunen and Lane Stafford to cut the lead to one run.Cashman then added two more runs for the Cyclones in the eighth inning as he singled to score Bohn and Wickham, who was intentionally walked.Arkansas State immediately responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning with singles by Kent Brunen and Jimmy Godfrey.Lincoln Mincks (1-0) picked up his first win of the year for the Cyclones as he lasted 6 1/3 innings. The former Dowling (West Des Moines) standout only allowed three runs on two hits and struck out seven Indian batters. Alex Donnelly had the save.Both teams had the same amount of hits as they did runs. Iowa State committed three errors.Conway belted a two-run home run in the sixth inning of the game Sunday as Iowa State wrapped up the series. It was his second home run of the season. The game also marked the 17th time in his career in which he has had multiple RBI games.Alan Bomer had a highlight performance as well, lasting 6 2/3 innings and allowing only one run on five hits, walking no one and striking out five ASU batters. He picked up his first win of the year as he improved to 1-2. Like Saturday, Donnelly recorded another save, his second of the series and of the season. Each team had five hits.The game was scoreless until the fourth inning when Wickham singled with two outs to right field, scoring Conway.Arkansas State’s only run of the game came in the sixth inning as Kent Brunen singled to shortstop Jake Brown, who also scored on Conway’s home run, scoring Martin. The pitching staff only allowed one hit the rest of the way.”We did hit a little better on Sunday,” ISU head coach Lyle Smith said. “Rob struggled a little bit defensively on Saturday and came back on Sunday, and his bat helped us.”We’re still not hitting the ball to our ability. We need to have the same type of performance and have to step up our pitching.”Iowa State (4-7-1) will open Big 12 action when it plays at Kansas State noon Saturday for a double-header and a single game 1 p.m. Sunday in Manhattan, Kan.