By Marissa VanWingen
Ellsworth Community College earned a split decision versus Northeast Community College in Saturday's home debut.
The Panthers lost the opener (6-2) and held on for the 3-2 victory in the second game.
In game two, Melanie Khounsourath and Payton Nolan both had two hit games while Walton was 1-2 with two RBI and the only extra base hit.
Alexis Obermeier got the win in the circle, going all seven innings and allowing three hits, two runs and fanning one.
To open the series, the Panthers scored one run in the sixth inning to lead 1-0 in game one. Northeast knotted the game at 1-1 sending it into an extra frame.
In the extra inning, the Hawks scored five runs to take the advantage for the first time. The hosts got one run back, but it was not enough. Nolan went 3-4 at the dish and Emmalee Bell went 2-4.
The pitching staff issued four walks, two hit batters and the defense made three errors in the loss to keep the game going. Millicent Wurst started the contest and went seven innings and allowed two hits, walked four, fanned eight and hit two. Peytin Clemensen came in for the final inning and took the loss with four hits, five runs (zero earned) and a strikeout.
ICCAC SOFTBALL
Saturday at Iowa Falls
NECC: 6| 6| 1
ECC: 2| 8| 2
LP: Millicent Wurst 7IP 2H 1R 1ER 4BB 8K; Peytin Clemensen (L) 1IP 4H 5R 1K
Hitting: Payton Nolan 3-4; Emmalee Bell 2-4
NECC: 2| 3| 2
ECC: 3| 9| 2
WP: Alexis Obermeier 7IP 3H 2R 1K
Hitting: Melanie Khounsourath 2-4; Nolan 2-2; Emery Walton 1-2 2B 2RBI
