NIACC opens regional tourney against Northeast CC

CLINTON - The NIACC baseball team begins play in the NJCAA Region XI tourament at 6 p.m. Thursday against Northeast CC at Ashford University Field, the Class A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.

Northeast CC (18-36-1) stopped Iowa Lakes 11-9 Wednesday night in a play-in game.

Second-seed NIACC (34-18-1 overall, 20-7-1 in the ICCAC) won the four-game series against Northeast CC 3-1. After dropping the series opener 11-1, the Trojans won the final three games 14-3, 15-1 and 13-1.

The winner of the NIACC/Northeast CC game faces either third-seed Kirkwood or sixth-seed DMACC at 3 p.m. on Friday. The loser of the NIACC/Northeast CC game faces the Kirkwood/DMACC loser at 6 p.m. Friday in an elimination game.

NJCAA Region XI tournament

Wednesday's play-in game

Northeast CC 11, Iowa Lakes 9

Thursday's games

Ellsworth 8, Iowa Central 7

Kirkwood 9, DMACC 1 (8)

6:45 p.m. - (2) NIACC (34-18-1, 20-7-1) vs. Northeast CC (18-36-1)

Friday's games

Noon - (1) Southeastern (45-11, 23-5) vs. Ellsworth

3 p.m. - Kirkwood vs. NIACC/Northeast CC winner

6 p.m. - DMACC vs. NIACC/Northeast CC loser

Note - Two elimination games will be played at noon and 3 p.m. on Saturday and the winner's bracket title game is set for 6 p.m. Saturday. Also, two elimination games are set for noon and 3 p.m. on Sunday with the championship game set for 6 p.m. Sunday. If necessary, a second championship game will be played at noon on Monday.