KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI -- In game three of a weekend series with Metropolitan CC, Ellsworth spotted the host school a 4-1 lead before coming back for a 6-4 victory, the Panthers only win in a competitive four-game set Saturday and Sunday. Metropolitan took both Saturday contests, 10-2 and 8-7, and knocked off ECC, 7-3, in the series finale.
The Panthers cut into the MCC 4-1 advantage in game 3 with a pair of runs in the 5th inning, then jumped ahead with a 3-run 6th and got solid relief outings from Jonathan Rosado and Charlie Jaeger to hold on for the win. Rosado and Jaeger combined to throw 3 scoreless innings and didn't walk anyone while striking out 5. Rosado was credited with his first win of the spring and Jaeger earned the save. JT Kostenbauer led the offense, going 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Jalen Aguiniga and Alexis Ruiz each had 2 hits and Ruiz scored twice and drove in a run. Zeb Wede plated a run with a sac fly and Aguiniga and Fabian Dumey both scored.
In the second game Sunday, Ellsworth grabbed an early lead with 3 runs in the 1st inning. Metropolitan answered with 6 in the 2nd and went on to post the victory. Ellsworth had 6 hits -- 2 by Bryce Hall and 1 apiece by Wede, Elio Narvaez, Javier Melendez and Aguiniga. The runs were scored in the 1st by the top 3 batters in the lineup -- Hall, Wede and Narvaez, and were driven in by Narvaez, Valentin and Melendez. Narvaez and Aguiniga stole bases. Starter Edwin De Los Santos was tagged with the loss after going the first 5 innings.
The ECC offense was held in check in the series' first game, managing only 3 hits. Hall had a double and Melendez and Aguiniga both singled. The Panthers swiped 4 bases -- by Narvaez, Valentin, Wede and Aguiniga. MCC had a 5-run 1st inning and Ellsworth managed only single runs in the 4th and 5th. Those runs were scored by Narvaez and Nick Chasey. Gavin Busby got the start on the mound and took the loss.
The second game on Saturday was a tough defeat. ECC led 6-0 after an inning and a half, scoring 2 times in the 1st and 4 in the 2nd. After MCC got 2 runs back in the bottom of the 2nd, Ellsworth increased the lead to 7-2 in the 4th. However, a 6-run 5th brought Metropolitan back for the victory. Narvaez homered and drove in 3 runs for ECC. Wede singled twice and doubled and scored a pair of runs. Aguiniga knocked out 2 hits, Hall scored 2 runs and Chasey and Ruiz also scored. Miguel Baez lasted 4 innings as the starting pitcher. Cade Armstrong allowed the go-ahead run and absorbed the loss. Jaeger finished up with 1 2/3 hitless innings.
The Panthers will stay on the road next weekend when they are slated to play doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday in Trenton, Missouri, against North Central Missouri College.