BURLINGTON, IOWA -- The ECC softball team came up empty on its first trip of the regular season in 4 games indoors in Burlington.  The Panthers dropped a 13-2 decision to Spoon River (Ill.) and an 8-6 verdict to Southeastern CC Friday before losing 14-4 to Rock Valley (Ill.) and 10-3 to Black Hawk (Ill.) the next day.

ECC pitching gave up 45 runs in the 4 games.  The Panthers' bats produced 16 doubles among their 28 hits and returning all-region player Maddy Harding had at least one double in each game, a total of 6 for the weekend.

Ellsworth was limited to single runs in the 4th and 5th innings in their 1st game.  Harding and Katelynn Hursh each had 2 hits.  Hursh and Kendra Rohner scored the ECC runs and they were driven in by Hursh and Angelica Agro.  Harding swiped 2 bases and Haley Martinez one.  Agro started in the circle and went 4 innings with Taryn Cory finishing up.

With a run in the 1st inning and 4 in the 2nd, ECC grabbed an early 5-0 lead in the contest with SCC.  The Blackhawks tied it at 5-all in the top of the 6th and ECC briefly regained the lead in the bottom of the inning.  SCC pushed across 3 runs in the 7th to snatch the victory.  Harding had 3 doubles in this game and Taryn Petty had 2 and Allison Paulsen one.  Emma Gordon drove in 3 runs, Petty 2 and Harding one.  The 1st 2 batters in the lineup, Harding and Gordon, each had 3 hits and 2 runs scored.  Petty added a pair of hits and 2 RBIs.  Cory, the starting pitcher, lasted 3 innings and Agro went the final 4.

Rock Valley had 5-run innings twice in their game with Ellsworth.  The Panthers stroked 7 hits, including doubles by Harding, Petty and Hursh.  Gordon contributed 2 hits.  Kaitlyn Mick got the start and went 3 innings, followed by Cory's one inning of relief.

Harding, Paulsen and Gracie Pierce drove in the runs in the final game.  Elli Han and Rohner both had a hit and scored once.  Agro pitched a complete game with 4 Ks.

Next up for the Panthers is a trip to Rochester, Minn., this Friday where they will play Rochester Community and Technical College and the St. Mary's junior varsity.