Couchman's walk-off homer lifts NIACC to 10-9 win

MARION - Freshman Will Couchman hit a two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift NIACC to a 10-9 win over Ellsworth in the second game of an ICCAC doubleheader at the Prospect Meadows Complex.

Couchman, who hit his first career home run earlier in the second game, drove home Lincoln Berry with the tying run and rounded the bases to touch home plate with the winning run. Berry reached to start the inning on a hit by pitch.

NIACC scored two runs in the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth innings to manage a split against the Panthers, who won the first game 6-4.

Cooper Mollet (1-0) gained the win in relief for the Trojans. Mollet pitched a scoreless ninth inning with three strikeouts and no walks.

NIACC hit a season high six home runs, including two from Sam Kwapnioski and one each from Adam Berghult and Berry. It is the most home runs in a game since the Trojans hit six homers in the first game of a doubleheader against Iowa Lakes on April 21, 2022.

It is the second time this season that two players (Couchman and Kwapnioski) have hit two home runs in a single game. Berghult and Berry both hit two home runs against Ellsworth on March 22.

It is the ninth time since the 2013 season that two NIACC players his two home runs in a single game.

The Trojans' Eli Anderson was 3 for 4 and scored two runs, Berry was 2 for 4 and scored two runs and Sam Kwapnioski was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

In the opener, Ellsworth scored one run in the second inning, two runs in the third inning, one run in the fifth inning and two runs in the sixth inning.

NIACC plated two runs in the first inning and single runs in the fifth and sixth inning.

NIACC had seven hits, including two from leadoff hitter Brayden Hellum.

NIACC (10-18 overall, 6-5 in the ICCAC) returns to action Friday and Saturday with a three-game series at Marshalltown CC.

SINCE 2013, TWO NIACC PLAYERS TO HIT TWO HOME RUNS IN SINGLE GAME

Robbie Glendinning/Blake Whitecotton vs. DMACC (2nd game DH) (4-4-16)

Troy Bullingham/Robbie Glendinning vs. Southeastern (NJCAA Region XI tournament) (5-15-16)

Jacob Hansen/Daniel Nikitovic vs. Hutchinson CC (3-14-18)

Joey Werner/Ezequias Encarnacion vs. Ellsworth (2nd game DH) (5-4-18)

Fox Leum/Will Sturek vs. Iowa Central (4-26-19)

Gabe Denton/Fox Leum/Gabe Eckstaine vs. Central College JV (1st game DH) (5-2-19)

Lincoln Berry/Cody Kelly vs. Iowa Lakes (1st game DH) (4-21-22)

Adam Berghult/Lincoln Berry vs. Ellsworth (3-22-23)

Sam Kwapnioski/Will Couchman vs. Ellsworth (2nd game DH) (4-5-23)