By Marissa VanWingen

Iowa Community College Athletic Conference foes Ellsworth Community College and Des Moines Area Community College finished their three game series on Wednesday with the Bears winning 9-7 and 17-12.

The Panthers (12-23, 3-7) scored the first six runs of the opener, leading 6-0 after four frames. The Bears (19-17, 7-3) cut into the deficit in the fifth and then put up seven in the final frame to record the win – in walk-off fashion. Trey Franck recorded a three run dinger to left center for the victory.

Offensively, ECC had more hits with 13. Maddox O'Connor, Gavin Doll each had doubles and Lucas Bruhl and Eric McGill each had home runs.

Three different pitchers threw in the contest. Sam Wirag was the starter and pitched five innings. He allowed six hits, two runs, walked two and fanned six. TJ Eikenberry threw an inning and allowed two hits and four runs before Brody Crow hurled the final inning and took the loss with two hits, three runs, one walk and two strikeouts.

Game two was a high scoring affair. The Panthers scored first and led 4-2 after one frame. The visitors built an 8-3 lead that was cut to 8-7 after three. DMACC scored eight runs in the fourth to take the 15-9 lead and didn't trail again.

The two combined for 25 hits, 29 runs and 16 extra base hits. ECC was led offensively by Jacob Koerselman (3-6) with a pair of doubles. Bruhl had a triple and home run, going 2-6 with a pair of RBI. McGill added another dinger to his tally and Jordan Rowe had a triple.

Reece Cochran started the game for the Panthers and went three innings and allowed five hits, seven runs, walked three and fanned one. Jacob Foudree was saddled with the loss, getting just one out. He allowed three hits, seven runs, six earned. Braeden Billings, Zach Lincoln and Drew Drake all threw in the contest.

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