IOWA FALLS, IOWA -- It's possible the Ellsworth CC offense simply ran out of gas in the last game of a 4-game series with Iowa Lakes, the Panthers' first home contests of the spring. After exploding for 64 runs in the first 3 games -- including 37 in one game -- ECC managed only a single run in the finale and had to settle for a 3-1 series win over the Lakers.
The Panthers slammed 18 home runs in the 4 games, including 8 in the 37-6 demolition in game one on Saturday. They totaled 9 roundtrippers in Friday's games, ECC wins by scores of 14-4 and 13-7. Tanner Short had a memorable 2 days for ECC, slugging 4 HRs and going 12-for-15 at the plate in the first 3 games. Nick Chasey went deep 3 times and Jose Roche, Jean Melean and Sergio Natera twice each for the Panthers. Coupled with 50 runs in an earlier 4-game series, that means the Panthers have totaled 114 runs in only 7 games this season.
Friday's opener, the 14-4 victory, saw the Panthers get blanked in the 1st inning, then score at least 2 runs in each of the next 5 innings. ECC amassed 13 hits, 6 of which left the yard -- 2 homers by Roche, and 1 apiece by Short, Melean, Krisitan Crespo and Chasey. Crespo knocked in 5 runs and Short, Melean, Chasey and Roche 2 each. Melean and Crespo scored 3 runs and Short and Roche 2. Short also swiped 2 bases. Derihan Suero was the beneficiary of the offensive onslaught, throwing a complete game while allowing just 2 earned runs and striking out 6 without a walk.
ECC poured across 5 runs in the 4th in game 2 and led 13-4 after 7 innings. Short was 3-for-5 with 4 RBIs, Dariel Colon had 2 hits and 3 RBIs and Chasey had 2 hits and 4 RBIs. Natera and Crespo both scored twice and had 2 hits. Short, Colon and Chasey all homered. Jaden Morris gave the Panthers a solid start, giving up 5 hits and fanning 9 in his 7 innings. Logan Fragomeni and Memphis Moore each pitched an inning of relief.
The 37-run contest was punctuated with a 15-run 5th inning after the Panthers put up 22 runs in the 1st 4 innings. Their 8 HRs included 2 apiece by Natera and Short as well as dingers by Jose Valentin, Melean, Diego Dinzey and Luke Saxton. There were offensive standouts aplenty -- Short was 6-for-6 with 6 runs and 6 RBIs, Valentin had 4 hits and 4 runs, Melean 4 runs and 4 RBIs, Dinzey 4 RBIs, Crespo 4 runs and 3 RBIs without getting a hit, Saxton 4 RBIs and Chasey 2 doubles and 2 RBIs.
ECC used 4 pitchers and starter Connor Cox notched the win. In his 4 innings, he allowed 5 hits, only 1 earned run and 2 walks with 3 Ks. Hadniel Payamps, Ethan Whitham and Kenyon Santos all worked in relief.
Chasey's homer was one of only 3 hits Ellsworth could muster in the 4th game. Dinzey and Roche both singled. Iowa Lakes scored 4 runs in the 4th and 6 in the 5th to gain their only victory of the series. The ECC pitching allowed 8 hits, but 12 runs.
The Panthers are now 14-14 and 8-6 in the conference. They will be at home against Northeast (Neb.) CC on Wednesday.