• DMACC limited to just one hit in losing the opener on April 2
• Freshmen Jackson Fisher of Chariton and Tre Mungin of Omaha, Neb., hit home runs as DMACC takes second game on April 2
• Freshman Sam Nicolino of Des Moines hits two home runs and droves in six runs in DMACC's loss in the first game on April 3

The DMACC baseball team fell to 11-17 overall and 7-9 in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) after dropping three games in a four-game series against Kirkwood Community College (ICC) April 2 and 3 at Cedar Rapids.

The Eagles took the first game on April 2, 7-0, and DMACC won the second game, 11-8. KCC swept both games on April 3, 12-10 and 11-9.

DMACC's only hit was a single by freshman Cadyn Schwabe of Thompson, N.D., as the Bears lost the first game on April 2. KCC got the win behind single runs in the first and third innings, four runs in the fourth and an insurance run in the sixth.

Freshman Jacob Draeger of Johnston started on the mound for the Bears and went three and two-thirds innings. He allowed six runs on two hits, struck out seven and walked four in falling to 1-3 for the season. Freshman Bret Price of Boone pitched an inning and a third, striking out one batter and freshman Skout Lave of Ozark, Mo., went one inning, allowing one run on two hits. He struck out two batters.

Freshmen Tre Mungin of Omaha, Neb., and Jackson Fisher of Chariton hit home runs and drove in three and two runs respectively in DMACC's win in the second game. The Bears trailed 2-1 after the first inning but scored seven runs in the top of the fourth for an 8-2 lead. KCC chipped away with a run in the bottom of the fourth, two in the fifth and another in the sixth to trail 8-6. Both teams scored two runs each in the seventh inning and DMACC got the win with an insurance run in the top of the eighth.

Freshman Jayden Singleton of Des Moines led the Bears with three hits, including a double, and two RBIs. Fisher and freshman Ben Nippolt of St. Paul, Minn., had two hits apiece, including a double by Nippolt.

Freshman Anthony Potthoff of Van Meter pitched the first five innings for DMACC and improved to 2-1 with the win. He allowed five runs on four hits, struck out seven and walked four. Freshman Wil Casel of Ankeny allowed one run and walked one batter in a third of an inning on the mound and freshman Greg Ryun of Victoria, Minn., gave up two runs, struck out two and walked one in an inning and a third. Freshman Cade Van Ness of Glenwood recorded his second save of the season in two and a third innings. He allowed two hits and struck out two batters.

KCC took a 10-2 lead into the fourth inning of the opener on April 3 and got the win despite DMACC's seven-run rally in the fifth inning. The rally tied the game at 10 and KCC took the win after scoring twice in the bottom of the fifth.

Freshman Sam Nicolino of Des Moines had three hits, including two home runs, and drove in six runs to pace the Bears. Nippolt also had three hits and drove in three runs and freshman Jack Thilges of Johnston added a double.

Freshman Hayden Thompson of Maple Grove, Minn., pitched the first two innings for DMACC and fell to 2-2 with the loss. He allowed nine runs on eight hits, struck out four and walked two. Freshman Cole Kaufman of Waukee pitched two and a third innings, allowing three runs on three hits with one strikeout and two walks and Price went an inning and two-thirds, giving up two hits and striking out one batter.

KCC closed out the series with seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to come away with an 11-9 win. DMACC trailed 3-1 after four innings but opened up a 9-3 advantage with two runs in the fifth, four in the sixth and two in the seventh. KCC made it a 9-4 game with a run in the bottom of the seventh.

Nippolt led DMACC's nine-hit attack with three singles and Schwabe and Thilges had two hits apiece, including a triple by Schwabe and a double from Thilges. Schwabe finished with three RBIs and Thilges drove in two runs. Freshman Kaleb Harrison of Neola hit a solo home run for the Bears.

Freshman Nick Crandell of Johnston pitched the first six and two-thirds innings for DMACC, allowing four runs on five hits. He struck out four and walked one. Freshman Ben Dixon of Sioux City went two-thirds of an inning, allowing four runs on two hits with two strikeouts and two walks and Van Ness gave up one run on three hits and walked three batters in a third of an inning. He fell to 1-2 with the loss. Freshman Jacob Norris of North Liberty went a third of an inning and struck out the only batter he faced.

The DMACC baseball team will play a doubleheader against Marshalltown Community College (MCC) April 6 at Marshalltown. The Tigers are 8-18 overall and 5-13 in the ICCAC.