Hosting Division II Winona State yesterday, the Cyclone baseball team was looking to improve on its record and prepare for a Wednesday evening game against rival Iowa at Sec Taylor Stadium. Winona State came in and gave ISU all they could handle as the Cyclones were swept by the visiting Warriors 2-1 and 5-4. The losses dropped the Cyclones record to 19-27 on the year.

“I’m very disappointed. You put your heart and soul into it and things just don’t always work the way you want them too. Tomorrow’s another day,” Head Coach Lyle Smith said.

Iowa State found themselves in an early hole to start the first game. The Winona State lead off batter reached on an error, and the Warriors quickly took advantage of it as the next batter doubled to score the run. Three batters later, an RBI single plated another run to give Winona State a quick 2-0 lead.

Starting pitcher Shawn Sedlacek settled into a groove and retired the Winona state batters in order in the second and third innings. Sedlacek continued to keep the Winona State bats at bay through the rest of the game, allowing the Warriors to only reach second base.

Trimming the lead to one in the fifth inning, the Cyclones looked as if they were ready to come alive. Rob Ipsen walked and Bahun singled to put a runner in scoring position. Aaron Runk then singled to load the bases. Reaching on a fielder’s choice, Shawn Leimbek drove in Ipsen to put the Cyclones on the board.

Scott Grawe entered in the sixth inning and continued where Sedlacek left off by keeping the Warriors off the base paths and off the score board.

Winona State reliever Matt Hoppenstedt came in with one out in the bottom of the seventh and shut down the ISU bats to seal the surprising win for the Warriors.

“We’re not talking Big 12 pitching here, we’re talking guys that were just tossing it up there and we’re popping it up and beating it into the ground,” Smith said. Sedlacek took the loss, despite pitching 5.0 quality innings, allowing five hits, two runs and striking out five.

Bahun went 1-for-3 in the game, as did Jade O’Brien, to pace the Cyclones at the plate. Runk, Ipsen and Chris Grubb each had a hit in two at-bats with Ipsen scoring the only ISU run.

Game two started out much the same as the first as Winona state scored on two hits in their first at-bat to take a 1-0 lead.

The Cyclones responded immediately as Bahun was hit by a pitch and quickly stole second for his 27th steal of the year. Runk walked and the double steal was on as both runners advanced. An RBI groundout by Leimbek scored Bahun and a single by Clark Jones brought in Runk to give ISU the lead.

Winona State scored two in the third to again take the lead, but the Cyclones came back again with two of their own on three straight hits and a Warrior error. Jones and Guye Senjem had consecutive singles and Bill Uelmen added another to score Jones. An error and a walk brought in Senjem for the go-ahead-run.

Holding the Warriors scoreless through the sixth inning, victory seemed apparent as the Cyclones needed only three outs in the seventh to secure the victory. A lead off walk began the slide for the Cyclones. A single and a costly error on a probable double play ball loaded the bases with only one out. A sacrifice fly to center tied the game and another ISU error enabled the Warriors to bring in the go-ahead-run with only one Cyclone at-bat remaining.

There still seemed to be hope for the Cyclones as Jones reached on an error to lead off the seventh. Pinch hitter Matt McDonough walked, but the rally ended as the Winona State closer held on for another one run victory.

“We had numerous opportunities, we had bases loaded at one point and we did not score. We couldn’t execute a bunt in the last inning. I’m very frustrated and I’m sure they are too,” Smith said.

Steve Larkin was charged with the loss, pitching 2.0 innings and giving up two runs on one hit with one walk.

Jones went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored to lead ISU offensively. Uelmen also had two hits going 2-for-3 with an RBI.

The Cyclones travel to Des Moines tonight for a single game with cross-state rival Iowa at Sec Taylor Stadium. Play begins at 6 p.m.