IOWA FALLS, IOWA -- Jose Valentin and Nick Chasey each homered 3 times, Ellsworth slugged 9 home runs for the day, and the Panthers continued their torrid offensive pace by blitzing Northeast (Neb.) CC, 21-7, on Wednesday.  The latest offensive outburst came on the heels of a weekend series in which ECC went deep 18 times in 4 games against Iowa Lakes and the victory allowed the Panthers to move a game over .500 for the spring.  They are 15-14 overall and 9-6 in the ICCAC.

In addition to the 6 long balls supplied by Valentin and Chasey, Jean Melean crushed a pair of HRs and Tanner Short also homered, bringing the Panthers' season total to 40 home runs.  They have 18 in the last 3 games and 29 over the past 6 contests.

Tying a season-high with their 22 hits, ECC got significant performances from a group of players:  Valentin was 4-for-5 with 7 RBIs and 4 runs scored, Dariel Colon was 4-for-5 with 2 runs, Sergio Natera was 3-for-4 with 3 doubles and 4 runs, Chasey was 3-for-4 with 3 runs and 6 RBIs, and Melean went 3-for-4 with 3 runs and 3 RBIs.  Those 5 players combined for 17 hits, 16 runs and 16 RBIs.  Short and Chasey are tied for the team lead with 9 homers each, and Valentin and Melean have 5 apiece.

Ellsworth failed to score in the 1st inning, then scored 3, 3, 8, 3, and 4 runs over the next 5 innings.  Northeast got 6 of their runs in the 3rd inning, all off ECC starter Jake English and all unearned.  George Hansen picked up the win in relief and didn't give up a hit or run in his 3 innings while striking out 4.

The Panthers are scoring runs at an amazing clip, an average of 8.2 per game.  And their 40 homers have already far surpassed last year's total of 23 with 18 regular season contests still remaining.

ECC will take on Marshalltown CC in a 3-game series, starting with a doubleheader on Friday.  The final game will be played Sunday.