By Marissa VanWingen

Ellsworth Community College officially opened the conference schedule with split versus Hawkeye Community College, winning the first game 2-1 and falling 11-5 in game two on Thursday in Grimes.

Over the weekend, the Panthers went 1-3 versus Northeast Iowa Community College and No. 4 Kirkwood Community College.

In ECC's win over the RedTails, Ella Garstang who went 3-3 at the dish. Millicent Wurst threw all seven innings and fanned nine, walked one and gave up just two hits.

While game one was a pitching duel, game two was an offensive frenzy. The two squads combined for 23 hits and 16 runs in the nightcap. The Panthers led 2-0 after one and 4-1 after two but in the top of the third before Hawkeye scored seven runs to take the lead and never trail again. Emmalee Bell (3-3), Emery Walton (2-4) and Thomas (2-4) all had multiple hits in the contest.

ECC also split with Northeast Iowa, dropping the first game 10-4 before recording a 4-3 win in game two. In the win, Elizabeth Thomas was the lone Panther with multiple knocks, going 2-4. Melanie Khounsourath had a double in the contest.

Three pitchers threw in the game with Alicia Cumberland getting the win. She went two innings and gave up a hit, a run, walked one and fanned one. Jolene Jordahl threw four innings and Peytin Clemensen had the final three outs.

In the opening loss, NICC scored six runs four hits, a hit batter and a wild pitch and rallied for the 10-4 win.

ECC was led offensively by Ainsley Brown who went 2-4 with a double. Wurst had a solo home run in the contest. Three different pitchers threw in the loss. Wurst went four innings with two hits, two runs, walked four and fanned eight.

Highly rated Kirkwood blasted ECC in two games, each going five innings. The Eagles won the first contest 14-0 and gave up just four hits. Game two they won 12-2 and tallied 13 hits. In that contest, hurler Ada Wood allowed just two Panther hits.

For more on ECC Athletics, visit: https://www.timescitizen.com/sports/ecc/