By Justin Ites, The Times-Citizen
Iowa Falls, IA – The Ellsworth Community College baseball team rebounded from a tough walk-off loss to DMACC by outscoring the Bears in game two to salvage a split in Boone.
The host Bears won Tuesday's opener by a 3-2 final, before the Panthers claimed the second contest by a final of 12-10.
For the first time since 2013, ECC played a game as a ranked team, as they were slotted 24th in the latest NJCAA Division II rankings.
Game one featured only 11 combined hits between the two teams, but the hosting Bears pushed out to a 2-0 lead after five frames. The Panthers were able to knot the score at 2-2 by scratching solo runs across the plate in both the sixth and seventh frames. Sam Patton's RBI single plated Brandon Weigel for the team's first run, and Dylan Phelps brought home baserunner Levi Beeler with a sac fly in the top of the seventh.
ECC could not get the seven-inning game to extras, as DMACC scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh on a sac fly.
Relief pitcher TJ Eikenberry took the loss on the mound after throwing 1.2 innings.
Game two produced more offense, but the Panthers were able to win the game despite getting out-hit 11-7 by the Bears.
Boston Doeschot got the offense rolling in the first inning with a two-run homer - his 20 of the season - to give ECC a 2-0 lead. Doeschot is now hitting .414 with 77 RBI this spring.
DMACC responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning and led 5-2 entering the fourth. That's when the visitors erupted for a five run inning. ECC added one in the fifth and four more in the sixth to take a 12-8 advantage into the seventh.
The Bears pushed solo runs across the plate in the seventh and ninth frames, but Casey Clair locked down the win with a two inning save.
On the mound, DMACC's five pitchers combined to walk eight batters. ECC also used seven pitchers in game two, with the third entry - Braeden Billings - earning the win after one inning of scoreless work.
The split leaves the Panthers with an overall record of 31-20 overall and 18-12 in Region XI games. DMACC saw its records move to 21-27 and 15-15.
The Panthers close the regular season with a three-game road series at Iowa Western with two games on Friday and a solo contest on Saturday.
For more Times-Citizen coverage of Ellsworth athletics: https://www.timescitizen.com/sports/ecc
