NIACC splits pair with Ellsworth
- Anderson powers NIACC offense in second game
- Trojans return to action Friday at Iowa Western
IOWA FALLS - The NIACC baseball team split a ICCAC twinbill with Ellsworth on Wednesday at chilly Cadet Field.
Ellsworth won the first game 4-3 and NIACC won the second game 12-10.
In the first game, NIACC led 3-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Panthers won the contest with a 2-run walk-off home run.
NIACC starter John Lyman allowed one run in five innings of work with nine strikeouts and one walk. Lyman's nine strikeouts matched his career high as he also struck out nine in second game of doubleheader against Minnesota North College-Hibbing on March 9.
Offensively for the Trojans in the opener, Charlie Harms, Eli Anderson and Payton Fort all collected two hits. Harms and Fort both drove in runs.
In second game, NIACC trailed 7-1 after two innings and rallied to trim the deficit to 7-6 after three innings by scoring five runs in the third inning.
NIACC tied the game at 7-7 with a single run in the fourth inning. The Trojans took a 8-7 lead with one run in their half of the sixth inning and Ellsworth regained the lead 10-8 with three runs in its half of the sixth inning.
NIACC plated four runs in the seventh inning to take a 12-10 lead. Neither team scored in the eighth or ninth innings.
Mason Stroh (1-0) picked up the win for the Trojans in relief. Stroh tossed 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief with a career-best three strikeouts and one walk.
Anderson led the Trojans at the plate by going 3 for 6, including a triple, with three runs scored and three RBIs. Anderson is now four hits shy of 100 for his career.
NIACC's Isaac Huettl, Caden Sammler and Alex Matchey all collected two hits and plated two runs. Will Couchman and Darcy Barry both had two hits.
NIACC (9-13 overall, 1-1 in the ICCAC) returns to action Friday and Saturday with a 3-game, ICCAC series at Iowa Western. The Trojans and Reivers are slated to play a twinbill on Friday and a single game on Saturday.
2024 NIACC baseball season highs
Hitting:
Runs scored – 27 vs. Minnesota North College-Hibbing (3-10-24) – Won 27-7 in 7 innings
Hits – 22 vs. Minnesota North College-Hibbing (3-10-24)
Doubles – 6, twice.
Triples – 2 vs. Minnesota North College-Hibbing (1st game DH) (3-9-24)
Home runs – 2, twice.
Stolen bases – 8 vs. Minnesota North College-Hibbing (1st game DH) (3-9-24)
Pitching:
Strikeouts – 12, three times.
