IOWA FALLS, IOWA -- The Ellsworth softball team split a pair of weekend doubleheaders with Iowa Central CC at Legion Field, the Panthers winning the second game with the 11th-ranked Tritons, 14-13, on Friday and taking the opening contest, 7-3, Saturday. Iowa Central's victories were by an 8-5 score the first day and 22-7 in the series finale.
The results leave the Panthers with a season record of 9-11 and a conference mark of 6-8.
Game one of the series saw Ellsworth go ahead 3-1 after one inning. The hosts were still on top, 4-3, before ICCC scored four times in the 4th to take the lead for good. Gwen Hovorka and Ally Sparks both homered and doubled for ECC and Chelsea Buck also had a two-base hit. The other hits were picked up by Gintare Paskocimaite, Kailey Becker and Chloe Roberts. Sparks had four RBIs and Hovorka scored two runs. Delaney Vetter went the distance in the circle and struck out eight without a walk but was tagged with the loss.
Vetter came back in relief to save the next game, the Panthers winning a wild, high-scoring affair, 14-13 ECC led 3-2 after one, 7-6 after two innings, and then trailed 10-7 heading into the bottom of the 5th when the Panthers broke loose for six runs. The Tritons evened the score at 13-13 in the top of the 6th, then Mya Mathes had the game-winning RBI in the bottom of the frame to let ECC grab the win. They had 13 hits and walked eight times while only one batter struck out. Becker went 4-for-4, Hovorka, Mathes and Roberts had two-hit games, and Paskocimaite was on base four times and scored every time she reached. She also knocked in two runs. Mathes drove in four runs and Becker and Roberts two each, with Roberts slamming a home run, Mathes a triple, and Hovorka, Mathes and Roberts all slugging doubles. Kaysee Dale swiped two bases. Cheyanne Collins started for ECC and went five innings. Sparks pitched the 6th and, then, Vetter slammed the door with a 1-2-3 7th inning to record the save.
A couple of 3-run innings carried the Panthers to victory in Saturday's opener. They got them in the 1st and 3rd and that was more than enough offense for Vetter, who pitched the distance and struck out 10 without walking anyone. Buck blasted a 2-run homer and Sparks was 3-for-4 with a couple of RBIs and two runs. Paskocimaite and Roberts had two hits each. Buck with three and Sparks and Roberts with a pair accounted for the seven RBIs. The Panthers again made good contact, recording just one strikeout for the second game in a row.
Iowa Central settled the final game early, erupting for 12 runs in the 2nd inning and cruising to the win. ECC got six of their seven runs in the 3rd inning. Meghan Danielson had two hits, Mathes scored twice, and Grace Gordon had two RBIs for the Panthers. Buck, Roberts, Sierra Robinson, Lauren Abram and Bri Howard scored runs, and Mathes, Danielson, Roberts, Robinson and Abram each picked up an RBI. Buck's double was the lone extra base hit. Collins, Roberts and Lili Ruiz shared the pitching duties as the Panthers used 16 players.
Ellsworth now faces a busy week with 10 games on the schedule. They host Marshalltown CC for a pair on Tuesday, then play four games at Northeast (Neb.) Wednesday and Thursday and four more at Indian Hills Saturday and Sunday.