IOWA FALLS, IOWA -- Two longtime conference foes, Ellsworth and NIACC, each came away with a victory in Thursday's league doubleheader.  ECC jumped out to a 4-1 lead after three innings and took game one, 9-5.  The Trojans overcame a 4-1 deficit to gain the split, winning 11-6.

Javier Melendez led the ECC offense in the opener, going 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBIs.  Ryan Boothe picked up two hits and scored two runs and Fabian Dumey also scored twice.  Victor Lara knocked in a pair of runs.  The Panthers stole nine bases, three apiece by Carlos Aranda, Melendez and TJ Truso.  Charlie Jaeger notched his 2nd win of the season, going the first four innings as the starting pitcher.  He was replaced by Jason Moist, then Isaac Rohde, and Cooper Johnson, who struck out the side in the 7th to nail down the victory.

Ellsworth used a 4-run 4th inning to go ahead 4-1 in the nightcap, but they couldn't hold down the NIACC offense after that.  Trey Morris contributed two hits and three RBIs, Lara had a pair of hits and he, Melendez and Truso had the other runs-batted-in.  The Panthers used Elio Narvaez, Matt Nolan and Broderick Bittle on the mound.  Narvaez took the loss.

The Panthers now prepare for a four-game weekend series, at home, against Southwestern CC.