By Marissa VanWingen

At the Region XI-A Tournament, Ellsworth Community College went 1-2 to extend their season by a game.

The Panthers opened with an 8-3 loss to Kirkwood Community College before defeating Iowa Lakes Community College by a 9-6 final and then lost 6-2 to NIACC.

Versus the No. 1 Eagles, ECC was tied at 3-3 in the top of the fifth. Kirkwood scored three in the bottom of the inning and two in the sixth to take the game. Control issues hurt the pitching staff as Millicent Wurst hit eight batters and walked four.
Ella Garstang went 2-3 at the dish, including a pair of doubles. Jolene Jordahl added a solo dinger to the offensive tally.

The Panthers trailed the Lakers 2-0 in the top of the third. Melanie Khounsourath smoked a grand slam as ECC scored six runs in the frame to take the lead and eventually the win. She was 3-3 at the dish and also added a double to her total. Jordahl was also 3-4 with two RBI and Garstang had multiple knocks.

Jordahl got the win, throwing 4.2 innings and allowing six hits, four runs, fanned one and walked five. Wurst came in to finish off the win for ECC and extend their season.

In game three, the Panthers evened the score with NIACC at 2-all but left runners stranded in the fourth. The Trojans nabbed all the momentum and scored four runs in the fourth to take the game by a 6-2 final.

ECC had four hits in the loss, Ainsley Brown and Khounsourath both had doubles. Alexis Obermeier threw the first three innings and allowed 10 hits, including two home runs. Wurst came in and threw the final 2.1 innings and allowed three hits, one run and fanned three.

The Panthers season ended with a 23-38 record, 9-28 in the league.

For more on ECC Athletics, visit https://www.timescitizen.com/sports/ecc/