- Sophomore Adam Leininger and freshman Maverick DeVeau homer in the Bears' 10-9 win in the opener
- Freshman Izzaq Zrust pitches two and a third innings and gets the win
- Leininger homers in 5-2 loss in the second game
The DMACC baseball team compiled a 1-2 record after a three-game season-opening series against Hutchinson Community College (HCC) February 7 and 8 at Hutchinson, Kan.
The Bears took the first of two games on Feb. 7, 10-9, and HCC, ranked 24th in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I poll, won the nightcap, 5-2. The Blue Dragons came away with a 13-12 decision in a single game on Feb. 8.
Sophomore Adam Leininger of Fargo, N.D., and freshman Maverick DeVeau of Kendallville, Ind., belted home runs to lead DMACC to its win in the opener on Feb. 7. The Bears trailed 5-0 after two innings but scored five runs in the top of the fourth to tie the game. HCC rallied for two runs in the bottom of the inning and scored again in the bottom of the fifth for an 8-5 lead. DMACC took a 10-8 lead with three runs in the seventh and two in the eighth and HCC made it a one-run game with a run in the bottom of the eighth.
DeVeau and freshman Brayden Foster of Alleman paced DMACC's six-hit attack with two apiece including one double each. DeVeau and Leininger led the Bears in runs batted in with three apiece.
Sophomore Jordan Leininger of Fargo, N.D., pitched the first three innings, allowing five runs on five hits with three strikeouts and a walk. Redshirt freshman Jack Sellnau of Anamosa went an inning and two-thirds, allowing three runs on two hits with two strikeouts and two walks. Freshman Izzaq Zrust of Ladd, Ill., threw two and a tthird innings and came away with the win. He allowed one run on three hits and struck out four. Sophomore Rhett Pleggenkuhle of Van Meter pitched one inning and struck out two of the three batters he faced.
HCC took a 3-0 lead after two innings and scored twice in the bottom of the fifth to get the win in the second game of the day. DMACC scored its only two runs in the fourth, one on Adam Leininger's second home run of the day and the other on a base hit by sophomore Isaac Zoske of Alleman.
The Bears had just five hits, all singles except for Adam Leininger's homer.
Sophomore Gage Miller of Mandan, N.D., pitched the first four innings and fell to 0-1 with the loss. He allowed three runs on six hits and struck out six batters. Freshman Ben Hites of Oak Creek, Wis., worked one inning and allowed two runs on two hits with two strikeouts and redshirt freshman Jack Bunnell of Eddyville, tossed an inning, striking out one batter and walking one.
Sophomore Blake Crancer of Normal, Ill., and freshman Nolan Galla of Warrenville, Ill., each doubled and homered in DMACC's loss in the only game of Feb. 8.
The Bears led 5-2 after three innings but HCC took an 8-5 lead with a single run in the bottom of the fourth, two runs in the bottom of the fifth and three in the bottom of the sixth. DMACC took a 9-8 lead with four runs in the seventh but HCC regained the lead at 11-9 on three runs in the bottom of the inning. The Bears scored once in the eighth to make it an 11-10 game before HCC tallied two runs in the bottom of the inning to go up 13-10. The Bears scored their final two runs in the top of the ninth.
Sophomore Martin Smith of Boone paced the Bears at the plate in four hits, including a double, and Galla came away with three hits. Crancer, Adam Leininger and freshmen Drake Obernuelller of Iowa City and Drew Owen of Alleman had two hits apiece, including a triple by Owen. Galla drove in three runs and Crancer, Smith and Owen drove in two runs apiece.
Redshirt freshman Hunter Cook of Polk City pitched the first four and a third innings, allowing five runs on six hits with two strikeouts. Sophomore Sebastian Talaga of Palo Hills, Ill., threw one inning, allowing two runs on one hit with two strikeouts and two walks and freshman Grayson Kirsch of Marion gave up three runs on two hits in one inning on the mound. He suffered the loss. Redshirt freshman Teeghen Rath of Cedar Falls surrendered two runs on two hits and walked one batter in two-thirds of an inning and freshman Jacon Luster of Huxley allowed one run on two hits in one inning of work.
The DMACC baseball team will play Northern Oklahoma College-Enid (NOCE) today at Enid, Okla.