By Justin Ites, The Times-Citizen
Clarion, IA – Weather-related field conditions led to the games being moved from Mason City to Clarion, but the bats traveled for Ellsworth Community College.
The Panthers won game one 10-2 before putting up video game numbers in a 26-8 victory in the second contest versus NIACC.
The Trojan pitching staff struggled with control during both games, as they combined to walk 19 ECC batters. That total included 13 free passes in game two.
Those free base runners opened up scoring opportunities. During game one, the Panthers led 3-2 before putting a five-spot on the board in the top of the sixth. They added two insurance runs that completed the 10-2 win.
Starting pitcher Jakob Nachreiner and relief ace Casey Clair combined to hold NIACC's offense to just five hits and two earned runs in the seven-inning victory. They did not issue any walks, and Nachriener struck out three. Clair added a pair of punchouts.
At the plate, Eric McGill finished 3-4 with three RBI, and Connor MacAlpine added three more runs knocked in on a pair of base hits. Boston Doeschot drove in two runs and recorded two base hits. Dillon Carlson was also 3-3.
ECC led game two 9-1 entering the fifth inning, when they exploded for 12 runs. They scored in six of the seven innings played.
Doeschot drove in six runs on the back of a pair of home runs. He was 3-5 at the dish. Brandon Weigel was 4-6 and his tally included a trio of doubles and five RBI. Maddox O'Connor was 3-5 with three runs knocked in, and MacAlpine also brought home three runs and was 2-3 with a pair of two-baggers.
Mason Stenberg was the benefactor of all the run support, as he tossed the first four innings to get the win. He allowed two hits and only one run (unearned) but was one of six pitchers to stand on the mound to complete the contest.
Wednesday's sweep pushed ECC's overall record to 19-14 and they stand at 6-6 in Region XI. The Trojans fell to 12-19 and 5-7.
For more Times-Citizen coverage of Ellsworth athletics: https://www.timescitizen.com/sports/ecc
