Although the Iowa State baseball and softball teams finished the year on different sides of the win-loss fence, both teams share a common bond.

The tie that binds the two teams is the loss of senior starters, and the ensuing dependence on incoming players.

The Cyclone baseball team finished the season in strong fashion, despite a rocky 0-9 start.

The team fought hard to get back into the race for a bid in the Big Eight tournament.

The ‘Clones finished second in the conference tournament, and fourth over all.

Iowa State faced some problems with its defense early on in the year, but saw tremendous improvement throughout the second half of the season.

The frustrating news is that the Cyclones will lose many starting players as graduating seniors.

This fact is especially disheartening for ISU’s head coach Lyle Smith.

“We will lose our whole infield,” Smith said.

Smith counts on the new recruits of the Cyclone baseball team to carry a large part of the weight that comes with the loss of a significant amount of starters.

“We will probably go with the freshmen lineup,” said Smith.

The Iowa State softball team did not fare as well in the Big Eight. The team finished seventh with a 7-14 record in conference play.

Head coach Debbie Kuhn believes the Cyclone’s season did not live up to the expectations of the players and coaches.

“I think the team was disappointed with the season,” Kuhn said.

Kuhn did see progress throughout the season that led to hope for the future.

“Our pitching staff as a whole gained a lot of confidence,” Kuhn said.

The Cyclone softball team will lose at least four starters to graduation, but believes the team has the ability to pull together and get things done.

“We lose some key ingredients, but look for good production from some of the younger players on the team,” Kuhn said.

Both teams look forward to the expansion of the conference from the Big Eight to the Big Twelve. “

It’s only going to make the conference harder,” Kuhn said. “I think we have the talent to be in the thick of things.”

Smith believes the addition of the four teams to the conference will benefit Iowa State in the recruiting area.

“We think the Big Twelve will be one of the toughest conferences,” Smith said. “We are hoping it will attract better recruits.”