NIACC faces Southeastern in tourney opener

NIACC's Ben Fitzgerald rounds third base and gets hand shake from third-base coach Shawn Schlecther in a game at Ellsworth on Friday.

May 7, 2019

CLINTON - The sixth-seeded NIACC baseball team faces third-seeded Southeastern in the opening round of the NJCAA Region XI tournament at 3 p.m. on Thursday at Ashford University Field, the home of the Class A Clinton LumberKings.

NIACC (31-24 overall, 1-5 in the ICCAC) won the season series against Southeastern (38-17, 16-12) 3-1.

The winner of Thursday's opener faces either second-seed Iowa Central (32-18, 19-9) or seventh-seeded Iowa Lakes (18-32, 6-22) or eighth-seeded Ellsworth (9-45, 4-24) at 3 p.m. on Friday. The NIACC/Southeastern loser will play in elimination round at 6 p.m. Friday against either Iowa Central, Iowa Lakes or Ellsworth.

No. 19 DMACC (37-15) was the ICCAC regular season champion earning the top seed for the regional tournament and a first-round bye.

NJCAA Region XI tournament

At Clinton

Wednesday's game

6 p.m. - (7) Iowa Lakes vs. (8) Ellsworth - Elimination game

Thursday's games

Noon - (4) Northeast vs. (5) Kirkwood

3 p.m. - (3) Southeastern vs. (6) NIACC

6 p.m. - (2) Iowa Central vs. Iowa Lakes/Ellsworth winner

Friday's games

Noon - (1) DMACC vs. Northeast/Kirkwood winner

3 p.m. - Southeastern/NIACC winner vs. Iowa Central/Iowa Lakes/Ellsworth winner

6 p.m. - Southeastern/NIACC loser vs. Iowa Central/Iowa Lakes/Ellsworth loser