By Marissa VanWingen
Ellsworth Community College went 1-3 in their final regular season home stand of the season.
On Saturday, the Panthers hosted top ranked Kirkwood Community College, falling by 14-1 and 16-6. ECC then split with Northeast Iowa Community College losing game one 12-3 and winning the finale 5-3 Sunday afternoon. The Panthers earned the eighth seed heading into the postseason tournament.
While the Kirkwood hitters were able to make contact, ECC did not help themselves defensively in the opening game. The Panthers made six errors in the field.
Jolene Jordahl took the loss throwing four innings, allowed seven hits, 12 runs – just five earned – walked seven and fanned five. Offensively, Ella Garstang was 2-2 at the dish.
In game two, ECC scored five runs in the first inning and led 5-3. The Eagles knotted the score in the second and then took the lead. They recorded a big eight-run frame in the fourth to pull away for the 16-6 victory.
The ECC pitching staff struggled with control, walking a combined 11 batters. Millicent Wurst took the loss, going three innings and giving up four hits, 11 runs (nine earned) and walking six.
Mylee Taylor led at the dish going 2-3. Hailey Sheaffer had a pair of runs batted in.
In the first game versus NICC on Sunday, the Panthers had 10 hits but could not get runs across home plate, falling 12-2. They recorded 10 knocks including two hit games by Garstang, Nolan and Hochstein.
Alexis Obermeier took the loss and allowed six hits, seven runs, walked one and struck out one.
In the lone win the hosts led by a 3-0 tally before the Cougars evened the score at 3-3 in the fourth. In the bottom of the sixth, ECC scored two runs to take the game. Three batters had multiple hit games with Payton Nolan going 3-4 with a run batted in. Kiera Hochstein and Wurst each had two hits.
Jordahl started the game and went four innings allowing six hits, three runs and struck out two. Wurst finished the game with one walk and struck out six.
The Panthers (22-36, 8-28) will have to play KCC in the opening round of the Region XI-A Tournament on Friday in Cedar Rapids.
For more on ECC athletics, visit https://www.timescitizen.com/sports/ecc/