IOWA FALLS, IOWA -- Northeast (Neb.) CC handed the ECC softball team 4 losses in a pair of doubleheaders at Legion Field over the weekend.  The Hawks won 9-4 and 5-3 Saturday and 15-8 and 10-7 Sunday.

The big inning for the visitors in the opener was the 2nd when they put 5 runs on the board.  Gracie Pierce had 2 hits and an RBI for the Panthers and Taryn Cory knocked in a couple of runs.  Ellsworth runs were scored by Maddy Harding, who stole 2 bases, Pierce, Lauren Brennan and Cory.  The starting pitcher was Cory who went the first 4 innings.  Haley Martinez threw an inning of relief and Lili Ruiz 2 innings.

The second game Saturday was tied at 3-all before Northeast scored single runs in the 6th and 7th innings to pull out the win.  ECC tallied a run in each of the first 3 innings.  Emma Gordon and Brennan had 2 hits each and Katie DeMaio slugged a solo homer for Ellsworth.  Madeline Myer added a run-scoring hit and Harding swiped 2 more bases.  Brennan, the starter, worked 6 innings before Katelyn Hursh finished up.

Sunday's action began with NCC getting 7 runs in the 2nd inning of game one.  ECC, after plating 2 runs in the bottom of the 2nd, trailed 7-5.  The Panthers then added 3 runs in the 4th to draw within 9-8 but they couldn't tie the score.  The top 4 hitters in the Panther lineup combined for all 9 of the team's hits, 3 by the leadoff hitter Harding, who had a single, double and triple, and 2 apiece by Gordon, Pierce and Brennan.  Harding and Gordon both scored 3 times and Pierce had the other run scored along with 2 RBIs.  Saige Keller was knocked out of the game in the 3rd inning and Brennan went the final 4 1/3 innings.  Four ECC errors led to 10 unearned runs for the Hawks.

In the finale, ECC led 4-3 after 2 innings, and was down 7-6 heading into the final inning when Northeast scored 3 runs.  Ellworth got only one of those runs back in the bottom of the 7th.  Brennan and DeMaio slammed home runs and Harding and Sierra Robinson both doubled.  Brennan was 3-for-4 with 3 runs batted in and Harding, Pierce and Robinson had 2-hit games with Pierce also driving in 2.  Jocelyn Hartley pitched into the 7th inning and Brennan came on to get the final 2 outs.  Once again errors hurt the Panthers' cause with 5 of the 10 runs unearned.

ECC closes out the regular season slate with a doubleheader against the Central College JV Monday afternoon.