• Barton CC wins a doubleheader on March 3, 10-2 and 9-6
• Barton CC takes the opener on March 4 and DMACC wins the nightcap
• Bears begin ICCAC play on March 22

The DMACC baseball team came away with a 1-3 record in a four-game series against Barton Community College (BCC) March 3 and 4 at El Dorado, Kan.

BCC won both games of a doubleheader on March 3, 10-2 and 9-6. The Cougars also won the first game on March 4, 6-3, and DMCAA took the second game by a 5-4 score.

Sophomore Gage Franck of Marion accounted for three of DMACC's four hits with a home run and two singles as the Bears dropped the opener on March 3. The game was tied 2-2 after three innings and BCC put it out of reach with three runs in the fourth, three in the fifth and two in the sixth.

Freshman Mitchell Cummins of Chanhassen, Minn., doubled for DMACC's other hit.

Sophomore Joe Husak of Cambridge suffered his first loss after opening the season with three victories. Husak pitched four and a third innings, allowing eight runs on nine hits. He struck out three and walked one. Freshman Thomas Leiden of Omaha, Neb., threw two-thirds of an inning and allowed two runs on one hit. He struck out one and walked two. Freshman Alex Berends of Story City worked one inning and walked two batters.

BCC scored seven runs in the first and two in the fifth to come away with the win in the second game. DMACC scored two runs in the second, three in the fifth and one in the seventh.

Cummins had two of DMACC's six hits and freshman Camden Kaufman of Waukee belted a two-run home run. Freshman Jaylen Ziegler of Urbandale doubled for the Bears, Cummins drove in a pair of runs and sophomore Brodie Kresser of Jesup had an RBI.

Freshman J.C. Dermody of Council Bluffs started for DMACC and lasted just a third of an inning. He allowed three runs on two hits and walked one batter as his record fell to 2-2. Freshman Ty Madison of Omaha, Neb., allowed two runs on one hit and walked a batter without being credited with any innings pitched and freshman Vinny Mauro of Norwalk went four and two-third innings, allowing four runs on four hits with three strikeouts and three walks. Sophomore Zach Hoehn of Waseca, Minn., pitched one inning, striking out one batter and walking one.

BCC broke a 1-1 tie with three runs in the bottom of the second and scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to get the win in the opener on March 4. DMACC tallied single runs in the first, fifth and sixth innings.

The Bears had just four hits with Kaufman getting a double and Kresser, Cummings and Kaufman driving in runs.

Sophomore Drew Scherbenske of Rapid City, S.D., went an inning and two-thirds and fell to 0-2 with the loss. He allowed three runs on three hits, struck out one batter and walked two. Freshman Daniel Lester of Bellevue, Neb., allowed one run on one hit and walked three batters but was not credited with any innings pitched and freshman Kaleb Gengler of Sioux City went four innings, allowing two runs on three hits with eight strikeouts and two walks. Freshman Jai Jensen of Clinton went a third of an inning and retired the only batter he faced.

DMACC scored three runs in the first and added single runs in the second and third innings in coming away with the win in the final game of the series. BCC scored a run in the first, two in the fourth and one in the sixth.

Kresser led DMACC's five-hit attack with a two-run home run and sophomore Reed Stallman of Alburnett hit a solo home run. Kaufman and sophomore Sergio Lira Ayala of Nappannee, Ind., also drove in runs for the Bears.

Freshman Chance Key of Waverly pitched four and two-thirds innings and earned a win in his first decision of the season. Freshman Zach Kain of Urbandale pitched a third of an inning, allowing one run on two hits with one walk and one strikeout and Jensen went a third of an inning and walked one batter. Kaufman worked the last inning and two-thirds and earned his first save of the season. He allowed one run on one hit, struck out three and walked one.

The DMACC baseball team will open Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) play with a doubleheader against Northeast (Neb.) Community College (NECC) March 22 at the DMACC baseball diamond.