By Marissa VanWingen, The Times-Citizen
Iowa Falls, IA – Ellsworth Community College softball hosted their 19th-ranked rivals Iowa Central Community College on Friday and fell 10-2 and 11-6.
The Tritons jumped out to an early lead in game one, scoring five runs in the first inning. The hosts had a scoring opportunity right away but left runners in scoring position in the home half of the frame. The Tritons (26-5, 7-3) added two more runs in the second and one in the third to lead 8-0.
In the bottom of the third, the Iowa Central hurler had a bases loaded walk to give ECC (12-14, 2-5) a run. The Panthers left the bags juiced with back-to-back strikeouts. The hosts cut into the deficit in the fourth. All of their bases were free with three hit by pitches and a walk, an error on the short stop sent Ainsley Brown home. The Tritons then scored two more runs in the fifth to end the contest with 10 hits and 10 runs.
Miakoda Whitehorse had two of ECC's four hits, with two RBI. Ella Garstang and Taryn Petty had the other knocks.
Peytin Clemensen took the loss, throwing the first two outs of the game. She gave up five hits, five runs and walked one. Hailey Sheaffer then threw the rest of the game and gave up six hits, five runs, walked two and struck out one.
Game two was closer, but a bad inning put the upset out of reach. After the Tritons went on top 2-0, the Panthers responded with five runs in the home half of the first. They added to that lead in the second and were on top 6-2. The Tritons scored one run in the fourth and then six in the fifth to take the lead back before earning the 11-6 victory.
Kaitlyn Mick went 2-3 at the dish with a double and an RBI. Petty also had a two bagger and a pair of RBIs and Avery Somers had a triple and two RBI.
Sheaffer took the loss in the circle, going one out, allowing four hits and four runs. Mick started the game and allowed five hits, five runs and walked six and Angelica Agro closed. She also allowed five hits, two runs and fanned four.
For more Times-Citizen coverage of Ellsworth athletics: https://www.timescitizen.com/sports/ecc
