The Cyclones fought with everything they had in the tank in what turned into a three-game series with Sauk Valley Community College, but they ended the season losing two of the three at home.

This was the first round of the NJCAA Region IV playoffs with the Cyclones having just come from winning a second consecutive Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference championship. Although every player gave their all in rare 90-plus degree heat and sunshine, Ashley Roberts threw solidly from the mound in nearly all three games, holding the Skyhawks for many innings at the plate.

GAME 1
The hard-throwing righthander for the Skyhawks held the Cyclones to seven hits, but Roberts held them to two hits in her team's 1-0 victory. The lone run came in the second inning after Alexandria Palumbo (1-for-3) hit a hard grounder that was overthrown to first. Emily Manso (3-for-3) crushed an RBI single to center to score the run. Kara Riordan (1-for-3) lobbed one over second base in the third while Danielle Travis (2-for-3) hit a blooper, but neither scored. Manso lined a standup double in the fourth, and Travis blooped another double to right in the fifth. Fortunately the one run was enough for the win.

GAME 2
The Cyclones started the next game on a promising note after Travis (1-for-4) rocked the ball over the left field fence to put her team up 1-0 in the first. However, the Skyhawks found their offense, countering with a homerun in the top of the second. Emily Koprowski started this game on the mound, but was replaced by Roberts in the middle of the third inning at-bat for Sauk Valley after they scored three times.

Down 4-1, Roberts shut down the Skyhawks' bats while the Cyclones attempted to make a comeback. Two walks, a single and errant throw allowed Abbie Wantroba (1-for-2) to score in the fourth inning. Emily Madrigal (1-for-1) batted in the other run on a high fly ball to left field that got lost in the sun giving her a double and scoring Arianna Andersen. In the Cyclones' final at-bat, only Riordan was able to come up with a single as the team fell 4-3.

Before the final game, the Cyclones recognized their sophomores: Haley Garza, Dvorak, Palumbo, Riordan, Roberts, Travis and Wantroba. "These players have given so much to this program. They never gave up. They are like my children," said Head Coach Ari Bulthuis.

GAME 3
In the best out of three matchup and each team winning one, this game was the make or break outing. In the sweltering heat, many of the Cyclones were pushing through aches and injuries, especially Brianna Dvorak who was hit by a pitch three times over two games and was part of collision while playing at third in this game. They held on strong for three innings before things unraveled.

With Roberts still leading the way, she shut down the Skyhawks with consistent defensive plays in the field, particularly Wantroba at shortstop. Travis started the hitting with a liner to right field followed by a walk from Dvorak. Palumbo knocked in a run on a double with Travis maneuvering around the catcher to score. Wantroba had a soft hit that drove in a run and Manso earned the other RBI on a shot to left, all in the first inning. Wantroba scored the team's final run on a sac fly to score Travis who had a walk in the third inning. After that, the big-hitting Cyclones hit into plays, and only Riordan mustered a single while Dvorak was hit by a pitch to get runners on the bags. Meanwhile, the Skyhawks collected 18 runs largely on solid hits. Roberts was pulled in the middle of the sixth inning after throwing for 16.2 innings. The game ended in the sixth inning with the Cyclones losing 18-4 to end the season.

"These players put everything they had into these games. Many of them were hurt, but they gave their all today. I'm very proud of them," Bulthuis said.