The Iowa State baseball team extended its winning streak to six games on Sunday with a 4-0 win over the Hamline Fighting Pipers.

The victory wrapped up a weekend of play that saw the Cyclones win both games of a double header against Rockhurst on Saturday by scores of 19-4, 12-0.

The Cyclones held the Fighting Pipers to just one hit the whole game, and ISU pitchers gave up no bases on balls. The ISU bullpen got a workout with six Cyclones seeing action. Sam Blahnik started the game for ISU, but Jake Whitney was credited with the win after he came in for the third and fourth innings.

ISU got things rolling in the first inning when center fielder Mike Bahun hit a base hit and later scored on a single by designated hitter Aaron Runk.

It was Bahun again in the third inning who reached base with a single and scored on an error by Hamline pitcher Chris Berry. Runk, who reached base on a fielder’s choice, scored on a base hit by right fielder Clark Jones making the score 3-0.

It was Jones who added the final run of the game when he launched a home run over the left field fence in the sixth inning.

Cyclone head coach Lyle Smith was pleased with the opportunity to give some of his pitchers a chance to pitch. “It was good to see [pitchers] who haven’t had a lot of work come in and do a good job,”Smith said.

On Saturday, the Iowa State baseball team swept a double header against Rockhurst at Cap Timm field.

The Cyclones exploded in game one, winning 19-4 and came back in game two to put up twelve runs for a 12-0 victory. The win was Iowa State’s fifth in a row and improved their record to 16-20.

“I was very pleased with how we swung the bats today. We really put a charge into a number of balls and made good hard contact. To score nineteen runs and twelve runs in consecutive games is good, I’m very pleased,” Head Coach Lyle Smith said.

The Cyclones had several season highs in the first game. The nineteen runs equaled a season high with the nineteen RBIs, four home runs and 15-run margin of victory, all season highs. The five game winning streak is also a season best for the team.

Freshman Nate Hilton pitched seven strong innings to earn the win, the first of his college career. Hilton allowed only eight hits, four runs and struck out six with only two walks.

“I thought Nate Hilton did a good job controlling the strike zone. This is the longest Nate’s gone this year, and it’s his first collegiate victory so I’m really excited for him,” Smith said.

Junior Shawn Leimbek led the Cyclones at the plate adding to his team high .387 batting average. Leimbek went 4-for-5 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Senior Mike Bahun nearly hit for the cycle, going 3-for-6 at the plate.

The center fielder had a triple, double and home run while scoring three runs and knocking in one. Junior Bill Uelmen went 2-for-3 with his seventh home run, five RBIs and two runs scored.

Freshman Aaron Runk recorded two hits for ISU, including a double and four RBIs, and senior Clark Jones also recorded two hits, including his team-leading ninth home run.

The Cyclones came out swinging again in the second game, putting up twelve runs on twelve hits to secure the win and gain some added confidence heading into the final stretch of the season.

“Games like this, a lot of guys had the chance to get in the ball game, I think that’s a positive. The bats seem to be coming along and we’re playing better defense, so hopefully we can continue that,” Smith said.

Junior pitcher Shawn Sedlacek provided seven solid innings of work to pick up the win, improving his record to 2-3. Sedlacek combined with juniors Jason Mathys and Steve Larkin for the shutout, the Cyclones second of the year.

Junior catcher Matt McDonough paced ISU at the plate with a 2-for-4 effort. McDonough belted his fourth home run of the year and recorded six RBIs in the game and scored two runs.

Freshman Jade O’Brien got the start at second base and responded with three hits in four at-bats. O’Brien legged out a triple and a double and recorded two RBIs.

Runk again had two hits, and pinch hitter Scott Vance came off the bench to go 2-for-2 with a triple and a double.

Jones slugged his second home run of the day and tenth of the year along with his 42nd RBI to lead the Cyclones in both categories.