The Iowa State baseball team returned to action yesterday, following a nine day layoff due to the weather, and hosted the Minnesota Gophers. The Cyclones dropped the contest 18-6 to the visiting Gophers, who belted a season high 21 hits en route to the victory. The loss dropped ISU’s record to 11-20 on the season.

“We had some opportunities and the ball was flying today, but it flew more for them than it did for us. I’m not very pleased, and we just didn’t do a very good job today. It’s discouraging when you haven’t played for a week and you get this type of effort,” Head Coach Lyle Smith said.

“Hopefully we’ve got four or five guys who say enough is enough and away we go. We’re not going to take this anymore and not going to be accepting [of] mediocracy. We’ve got some potential on this team, but we are not playing anywhere near our potential,” Smith said.

Iowa State sent top pitcher junior Ryan Seifert to the mound, but the hot Gopher bats sent him to the bench after only one-third of an inning. Junior Jason Mathys entered in relief to pitch two innings. Minnesota sent twelve batters to the plate in the top of the first, scoring nine runs on eight hits. With a stiff wind blowing out, the Gophers were also able to hit five extra base hits in the inning, including three home runs.

Minnesota continued its hot streak as they added another run in the second inning. The Cyclones responded by scoring a run of their own in their half of the second. Senior shortstop Rob Ipsen hit a two- out RBI double to left center to score junior Brian Bohannon, who reached on an opposite field single.

Keeping the pressure on, the Gophers scored two more runs in the third inning on Robb Quinlan’s third consecutive home run of the game. The Cyclones brought in junior pitcher Shawn Sedlacek to try and slow down the Gopher bats, but Minnesota built an eleven run lead heading into ISU’s half of the third.

The Cyclones wouldn’t lie down as they chipped away with a run of their own in the third. Freshman Aaron Runk, getting the start in left field, belted his first career home run as a Cyclone. The shot over the right center field fence was Runk’s first extra base hit of the season and trimmed the ISU deficit to ten.

“I’m very pleased with some of the freshman, Aaron Runk is playing his heart out and Jade O’Brien get in and gets a hit. I’m more pleased with some of the younger players at this point than I am with some of the returning guys. I’m very pleased with Aaron, he was definitely a bright spot,” Smith said.

Sedlacek settled down and retired seven straight Minnesota batters through the fifth inning. The Cyclones were able to score three runs of their own in the fifth to cut the lead to six runs. Senior Mike Bahun lead off the inning as he was hit by a pitch and promptly stole second. Runk reached on a walk, and junior Shawn Leimbek shot an RBI single through the hole into right field to score Bahun. Senior Clark Jones stepped to the plate and hit an RBI groundout to score Runk. Leimbek scored two batters later when junior Bill Uelmen ripped an RBI single to left field to plate ISU’s third run of the inning. With the hit, Uelmen increased his hitting streak to eleven straight games.

Minnesota responded with three more runs of its own to match the Cyclones in the sixth inning and another in the seventh to up the lead to ten with only two ISU at-bats remaining.

Iowa State persisted and scored another run in its half of the eighth inning. Freshman Jade O’Brien came off the bench to record an infield single. Ipsen drew a walk and Bahun’s single loaded the bases with one out. Runk came through with an RBI fielder’s choice, beating out a potential double play to score O’Brien.

The Gophers added two more insurance runs in the top of the ninth to seal the victory as the Cyclones sent only four batters to the plate in their half of the inning and were unable to score.

Runk paced the Cyclones at the plate going 2-for-4 with a home run, double, two RBI and two runs scored. Leimbek also went 2-for-4 with an RBI and scored a run. Ipsen added two hits going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

“Rob is playing up to his level of ability and is playing as hard as he can, our nine hole hitter had two hits and made some good plays defensively,” Smith said.

Sedlacek came in to pitch the final 6.2 innings, with Seifert getting the loss.

“The kids are the ones who have got to turn this thing around, so we’re looking for a better effort against UNI because what started out as a promising season, just by our play has turned into a major disappointment,” Smith said

The Cyclones travel to Cedar Falls today for a series with Northern Iowa. The teams will finish a previous game that was suspended in Ames due to darkness, then play a double header.