IOWA FALLS, IOWA -- The Ellsworth CC baseball team opened their home schedule on Wednesday with a doubleheader against Marshalltown CC, but the Panthers dropped both games, 3-2 in eight innings and 14-3. ECC coach Samuel Vega had Tweeted earlier in the day that it had been 623 days since he became the college's head coach and it was the first time he had sent his squad into action on their home field. The entire 2020 home slate was wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the Panthers rallied to tie Wednesday's first game, 2-2, with a pair of runs in the bottom of the 7th, MCC pushed across the winning score in the top of the 8th. Ybrahim Quevedo came through with a clutch two-run hit for the tying runs, scoring pinch-runner Alexis Ruiz and TJ Truso. Victor Lara had two of ECC's six hits. Truso, Trey Morris, Quevedo and Zeb Wede each had one hit. Trey Morris started on the hill for Ellsworth and gave up five hits and one earned run in his 5 2/3 innings, striking out five with one walk. Isaac Rohde went 2 1/3 innings in relief and was tagged with the loss. He fanned four.
The second game was decided early, Marshalltown taking a 12-3 lead after three innings. Carlos Aranda had a two-hit game and Morris, Quevedo, Bryce Hall and Jake Kostenbauer also contributed hits. Scoring runs were Truso, Jacoby Endreas and Tate Walker. Quevedo supplied two more RBIs and Aranda had one. ECC used six pitchers, the most effective of whom was Cade Armstrong, who fired two scoreless innings. Matt Nolan, the starter, William Figueroa, Broderick Bittle, Simon Victoriano and Jose Torres all pitched, too.
The Panthers are 8-12 and 1-7 in the conference. They will play four league games this weekend with DHs at Cadet Field Saturday and Sunday.