INDIANOLA, IOWA -- Ellsworth CC and Iowa Central CC began their conference schedules with a four-game series that was moved to the Simpson College diamond.  The Tritons took all 4 games, winning 12-8 and 5-4 Monday and 7-5 and 14-6 on Tuesday.

The Panthers started things off by erupting for 8 runs in the top of the 3rd inning of game one to grab an 8-2 lead.  Iowa Central than scored 10 runs in innings 4-6 to come from behind.  Maddy Harding's 2-run homer was part of the huge 3rd inning that also featured a 2-run single by Sierra Robinson.  Madeline Myer, Gracie Pierce, Katelynn Hursh and Kierstyn Sutton also drove in runs.  Harding batted twice in the 3rd and came around to score both times.  Emma Gordon, Myer, Lauren Brennan, Taryn Cory, Hursh and Sutton scored the other runs.  Cory went the distance in the circle and absorbed the loss.

Harding slammed a 3-run home run in the 3rd inning of Monday's 2nd game and ECC tacked on another run to go on top, 4-2, heading into the bottom of the 4th.  ICCC put up their 5 runs in their next 3 at-bats, including the game-winner in the bottom of the 6th.  Ellsworth was limited to 4 hits -- the round-tripper by Harding and singles from Gordon, Brennan and Katie DeMaio.  Miranda McClellan drove in the other run.  Jocelyn Hartley threw the first 4 1/3 innings and Brennan finished up and was tagged with the defeat.

In Tuesday's opener, ECC got 3 of its runs in the 4th and the other 2 in the 7th.  Six different players had hits, 5 singles and a Sierra Robinson double.  Gordon and Robinson each knocked in a pair of runs and the runs were scored by Brennan, Pierce, Cory, McClellan and Sutton.  Harding, after homering in each game the day before, was walked 3 times and there were stolen bases by Myer, McClellan and Sutton.  Brennan and Cory combined for pitching duties with Brennan going the first 4 innings and Cory 2 in relief.

Iowa Central piled up a 13-3 advantage after 3 innings in the series finale.  ECC plated their final 3 runs in the 4th.  Gordon had the lone extra-base hit, a double, one of her 3 hits.  She also scored two times, knocked in 3 runs and stole 2 bases.  Myer, Robinson and McClellan all had 2-hit games and McClellan had 2 runs scored.  The pitching was handled by Hartley, Cory and Lili Ruiz.

The Panthers resume league play with a 4-game series against Kirkwood CC this weekend.