• Bears and Panthers split a doubleheader on April 15
• DMACC takes 8-7 win in 9-inning game on April 16
• CoFR Jake Thilges drives in nine runs in the three games

The DMACC baseball team improved to 26-13 overall and 12-6 in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) by winning two of three games against Ellsworth Community College (ECC) April 15 and 16 at the DMACC baseball team.

ECC took the opener on April 15, 5-3, and DMACC won the second game, 18-8. The Bears then picked up an 8-7 win in a nine-inning game on April 16.

Covid-19 freshman (CoFR) Jake Thilges of Johnston led the Bears with five hits and nine runs batted in over the three games.

ECC used a three-run rally in the first inning and single runs in the fourth and sixth frames to win the opener on April 15. DMACC scored single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to make it a two-run game.

CoFR Jayden Singleton of Des Moines paced DMACC's five-hit with a pair of singles and Thilges and Covid-19 sophomore (CoSO) Jack Luster of Huxley drove in one run apiece.

DMACC starter Jacob Draeger of Johnston fell to 1-2 with the loss. He pitched just two-thirds of an inning, allowing three runs on one hit and walked four batters. Freshman Dale Stout of Waukee went four and a third innings, allowing one run on four hits and striking out three batters and freshman Thomas King of Des Moines allowed one run on one hit with two strikeouts and a walk in two-thirds of an inning. CoFR Jarrett Novak of Omaha, Neb., struck out one batter and walked one in an inning and a third.

Thilges hit two doubles, a triple and a home run and drove in eight runs to lead DMACC in the second game. The Bears led 4-0 after two innings, 5-2 after three innings and 10-6 after four innings. They closed out the win with four runs in the seventh and four in the eighth.

Freshman Reed Stallman of Alburnett joined Thilges with four singles in the win and Singleton and freshman Cael Boever of Sioux City had three hits piece. CoFR Tre Mungin of Omaha, Neb., and freshman Brodie Kresser of Jesup had two hits apiece, including one double each. Boever came away with three RBIs and Stallman drove in two runs.

CoFR Jacob Norris of North Liberty pitched the first three and a third innings for DMACC, allowing four runs on three hits. He struck out two and walked three. CoFR Greg Ryun of Victoria, Minn., went a third of an inning and surrendered two runs and walked two batters. CoSO Cade Van Ness of Glenwood got his first win of the season behind three and a third innings on the mound. He allowed two runs on four hits, struck out two and walked one. Freshman Drew Sherbenske of Rapid City, S.D., went one inning and recorded one strikeout and one walk.

Freshman Jake Brill of Maple, Wis., singled in Kresser in the bottom of the ninth to give DMACC the win in the only game on April 16. Kresser reached base on a fielder's choice and moved to second when Stallman was walked. Brill then lined a single through the left side of the infield to give the Bears the win.

Freshman Gage Franck of Marion led DMACC with three hits and Kresser, Luster and Singleton had two hits apiece. Boever, who doubled in the win, and Singleton drove in two runs apiece.

CoFR Anthony Potthoff of Van Meter pitched the first six innings for DMACC, allowing three runs on four hits. He struck out four and walked three. King went a third of an inning and allowed two runs on one hit with one walk and one strikeout. Freshman Simon Gregersen of Ramsey, Minn., improved to 3-1 with the win. He went two and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs on two hits. He struck out one and walked four.

The DMACC baseball team will face Iowa Lake Community College (ILCC) in a doubleheader April 19 at Boone. The Lakers are 10-19 overall and 5-11 in the ICCAC. DMACC took a 7-0 decision from ICCC when the two teams played March 28 at the DMACC baseball diamond.