After losing both ends of a doubleheader on Tuesday, the Iowa State baseball team regrouped to take the single game from Oklahoma State on Wednesday.

The Wednesday win snapped the Cowboy’s 12-game winning streak and gives the Cyclones more conference victories (7) than the team had all of last season. ISU still has nine conference games left on its slate, including six at Cap Timm Field.

Cyclone Manager Lyle Smith mixed it up in the series finale by giving closer Steve Larkin the nod as starting pitcher. It was Larkin’s first start in his four-year ISU career.

Larkin went 4 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on four hits. All of the runs came in the fifth inning. He struck out six Cowboy batters.

Shawn Sedlacek came in during the middle two innings to pick up the victory, while Brad Waldron came in to work the final 2 1/3 for his first save of the year.

Matt McDonough supplied the offensive fireworks for ISU. The designated hitter blasted a grand slam in the seventh inning. The Cyclones exploded for seven runs in the frame to take a 9-4 lead.

After allowing a pair of tallies in the bottom of the seventh and one in the latter half of the eighth, ISU put the Cowboys away by plating six runners in the ninth to seal a 15-7 victory.

ISU teammate Bill Uelmen kept pace with McDonough by belting his ninth home run of the year to share the team lead.

The Cyclones rapped out 18 base hits on the afternoon, with four coming from leadoff man Aaron Runk. Shawn Leimbek and Brad Bjorklund each picked up three hits, while three other Cyclones recorded two.

The victory over Oklahoma State was the third time this season that ISU has defeated a ranked opponent.

Smith was pleased with the team’s effort to capture the final game.

“We’re pleased we got one,” he said.

In the series opener on Tuesday, ISU got off to a rough start in Stillwater. ISU pitcher Nate Hilton was charged with seven runs on seven hits in just 1/3 of an inning.

The Cyclones were unable to mount a rally after the quick 7-1 deficit, and lost 14-6.

One positive for ISU was the pitching performance by freshman Dave Rossman. In only his third appearance of the year, Rossman hurled 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on three hits.

At the plate, ISU’s McDonough went 3-for-5 with a home run.

In the nightcap, the Cowboy’s claimed the series’ most competitive game by a score of 9-5.

After issuing 11 bases on balls in the first game, Cyclone pitchers allowed 13 free passes in game two. The walks helped the Cowboys taste victory despite the fact they were outhit 9-7.

Starter Brian Curtin took the loss for ISU, dropping his record to 0-4.

Uelmen led the offense by going 2-for-3 with three RBIs.

“We had some opportunities,” Smith said. “We could have gotten that second one.”

The Cyclones remain within reach of the conference’s final postseason spot. Smith knows this weekend’s three-game homestand against Kansas State will go far in telling how far into the future the Cyclones will be playing this season.

“This weekend’s going to be big. We can make it into a dogfight,” Smith said.

Smith hinted that the team may shake things up again this weekend with so much at stake.

“We’re pulling out all the stops,” he said. “There’s no tomorrow. You’re just trying to give your club a chance to win.”