The Iowa State baseball team suffered a disappointing loss on Thursday to the Grand View Vikings. After two big wins against Oklahoma State on Wednesday, the Cyclones were defeated 11-9 by Grand View.

The starting pitcher for Iowa State was Chad Menster. This was Menster’s first outing for almost two years due to shoulder surgery. Menster faced some hard hitting in the first inning and gave up five runs. Iowa State did not score in the first inning and entered the second down 5-0.

Iowa State pitcher Jake Whitney entered the second inning with the Cyclones behind 5-0. Whitney shut down Grand View with two hitless innings of great pitching. During the second inning, the Cyclones had the bases loaded with Chris Grubb at the plate. Grubb struck out, and ISU scored one run on a walk to Guye Senjem.

In the third inning the Cyclones again had the bases loaded with Grubb up to bat. Grubb was not to be denied a second time. He nailed a double to center field driving in three runs to pull the Cyclones within one.

In the fourth inning ISU pitcher Jason Behn came on in relief and allowed the Vikings to collect one run and make the score 6-4.

Iowa State brought Sam Blahnik in for relief of Behn in the sixth inning. Blahnik gave up four runs to make the score 10-4.

In the sixth inning, Cyclone catcher Troy Logan singled and reached second on an error, scoring one run. Cory Bohannon came up to bat next and knocked in one more run on a double to center field, making the score 10-6. Darrin De Reu collected an RBI on a ground ball to first, which brought the Cyclones to within three.

In the eighth inning ISU closer Steve Larkin came in and gave up one run, increasing the lead to 11-7.

The Cyclones fought back in the bottom of the eighth behind a two- run smash over the left field fence by Mike Bahun. The Cyclones did not score again and ended the game with an 11-9 loss.

Despite the loss Whitney thought ISU had some positive aspects. “We did well as a team,” Whitney said.

ISU assistant coach Ed Servais was disappointed with the performance and hoped it would not be a sign of what is to come. “Today we took some steps back,” Servais said. “Our defense let us down. You can’t make five errors in this game.”

The Cyclones start a three-game series against the Kansas Jayhawks and former coach Bob Randall on Friday. Servais explained that the main concern of the team is to get into the Big Eight tournament. “We gotta get into the tournament, and we have to win some games,” Servais said.