• DMACC loses both games on April 17, 6-5 and 7-2
• Freshman Jackson Fisher of Chariton homers and drives in two runs as the Bears take the first game on April 18, 3-1
• DMACC freshman Hayden Thompson of Maple Grove, Minn., allows one run on three hits to come away with the win

The DMACC baseball team fell to 16-24 overall and 12-16 in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) after losing three of four games to Ellsworth Community College (ECC) April 17 and 18 at Iowa Falls.

ECC won both games on April 17, 6-5 and 7-2. DMACC took the opener on April 18, 3-1, and ECC closed out the series with a 15-11 win in the second game.

ECC broke a 5-5 with a run in the bottom of the eighth to get a 6-5 win in the first game on April 17. The game was tied 3-3 after four innings and ECC led 5-3 behind a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. DMACC tied it with two runs in the top of the seventh.

Freshmen Jake Thilges of Johnston and Kyle Westhoff of West Des Moines hit home runs for the Bears and freshman Tre Mungin of Omaha, Neb., had three hits, including a pair of doubles. Freshmen Ben Nippolt of St. Paul, Minn., and Jackson Fisher of Chariton also doubled in the game and Westhoff had two RBIs.

Freshman Jacob Draeger of Johnston pitched the first six innings for DMACC, allowing five runs on six hits. He struck out seven and walked one. Freshman Blake Grevengoed of West Des Moines went an inning and a third and fell to 1-1 with the loss. He allowed one run on one hit, struck out one batter and walked two.

Fisher had three hits, including a home run, and Thilges and freshman Jayden Singleton of Des Moines each doubled in DMACC's loss in the second game. The Bears led 2-0 after scoring twice in the top of the third but ECC responded with a run in the bottom of the inning, another run in the fourth and closed out the win with two runs in the fifth and three in the sixth.

Freshman Anthony Potthoff of Van Meter started on the mound for DMACC and went three and a third innings. He allowed two runs on two hits, struck out three and walked four. Freshman Cole Kaufman of Waukee took the loss to slip to 0-1 for the season, He went an inning and two-thirds, surrendering three runs on two hits. Kaufman walked one and struck out one. Freshman Bret Price of Boone pitched a third of an inning, allowing three runs on one hit and freshman Jacob Norris of North Liberty walked one batter in two-thirds of an inning on the mound.

Fisher had three hits, including a home run, and drove in two runs as DMACC got a 3-1 win in the first game on April 18. Mungin also drove in a run for the Bears and Nippolt collected a double.

Freshman Hayden Thompson of Maple Grove, Minn., scattered three hits, struck out nine and walked two in improving to 3-3 with the win.

ECC led 11-1 after four innings in winning the final game of the series. The Bears scored three runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings to close to 11-7. ECC picked up a run in the bottom of the sixth to lead 12-7 and DMACC made it a 12-11 game with two runs in the seventh and two in the eighth. ECC used a three-run rally in the bottom of the eighth to get the win.

Nippolt had three hits, including a home run, and drove in four runs to pace the Bears in the game. Freshman Cadyn Schwabe of Thompson, N.D., and sophomore Kaleb Harrison of Neola had two hits apiece, including a double by Schwabe, and freshman Jake Sheeder of Truro drove in a pair of runs. Fisher also doubled for the Bears.

Freshman Nick Crandell of Johnston went the first three innings for DMACC and fell to 1-3 with the loss. He allowed eight runs on seven hits, struck out four and walked one. Grevengoed pitched a third of an inning and gave up three runs on one hit with one strikeout and two walks and freshman Greg Ryun of Victoria, Minn., allowed one hit, struck out two and walked two in one inning on the mound. Freshman Cade Van Ness of Glenwood threw an inning and two-thirds, allowing one run on two hits. He struck out one and walked one and freshman Skout Lave of Ozark, Mo., pitched two innings, allowing three runs on two hits and striking out five batters.

The DMACC baseball team will play a doubleheader against Southwestern Community College (SWCC) April 22 at Creston. The two teams split a doubleheader April 14 at the DMACC baseball diamond with the Bears taking a 12-2 decision in the second game after SWCC won the opener, 8-5. SWCC is 13-28 overall and 12-16 in the ICCAC.