IOWA FALLS, IOWA -- Visiting Northeast (Neb.) jumped out to an 8-1 lead after 3 1/2 innings and went on to spoil Ellsworth's home opener, beating the Panthers, 14-4, on Wednesday afternoon at Cadet Field.  It was the long-awaited first home contest for ECC, which had played its first 29 games of the spring on the road.

NCC did their early damage against Panthers' starter Charlie Jaeger, who gave up only 4 earned runs and fanned 6.  Cade Armstrong, Colton Sanders and Jonathan Rosado followed Jaeger to the hill and ECC pitchers allowed 6 unearned runs and were touched for 6 home runs.  Armstrong's outing was solid, not permitting a run in his 2 1/3 inning stint.

Bryce Hall (4-for-5) and Jose Valentin (3-for-4) teamed up for 7 of Ellsworth's 11 hits.  They each scored a run and Zeb Wede scored twice.  The RBIs came from Hall, Elio Narvaez, Javier Melendez and Sergio Natera. 

The Panthers go right back on the road this weekend for 3 games at Indian Hills CC on Saturday and Sunday.