- Tritons take a single game on March 20, 14-6
- ICCC wins a doubleheader on March 21, 15-3 and 12-11
- DMACC faces Northeast (Neb.) Community College on March 25
The DMACC baseball team fell to 11-15 overall and 0-3 in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) after dropping a three-game series to Iowa Central Community College (ICCC) March 20 and 21 at Fort Dodge.
The Tritons, ranked 12th in the Division II poll from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), ran their current winning streak to 20 consecutive games and improved to 21-1 overall and 3-0 in the ICCAC with a 14-6 win in a single game on March 20 and 15-3 and 12-11 victories in a doubleheader on March 21.
The losses extended DMACC's losing streak to four games.
The Bears were limited to six hits, including a solo home run from sophomore Cole Baumgart of Clarinda, in their loss on March 20. Both teams scored two runs in the first inning and DMACC went up 4-2 with a pair of runs in the top of the second, ICCC responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning and put the game away with a run in the third, three in fifth, one each in the sixth and seventh innings and three in the eighth. DMACC tallied one run in the seventh and one in the ninth.
Freshman Drew Owen of Alleman and sophomore Austin Anderson of Marion paced the Bears at the plate with two singles apiece.
The Bears used nine pitchers in the loss. Sophomore Andrew Theiss of Clear Lake started and suffered the loss in his first decision of the season. He pitched an inning and a third, allowing five runs on five hits with four strikeouts and a walk. Freshman Izzaq Zrust of Alleman went two and two-thirds innings, allowing one run on two hits with four strikeouts and two walks and freshman Ben Hites of Oak Creek, Wis., gave up three runs on three hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning on the mound. Freshman Greg Noel of Moorhead, Minn., also pitched two-thirds of an inning and gave up one run on one hit with one strikeout and freshman Ben Engele of Oakdale, Mont., allowed one run on one hit with one walk in one inning of work. Freshman Vincent Clawson of Rhodes threw two-thirds of an inning, allowing one run with one strikeout and two walks and sophomore Braxton Hoard of West Fargo, N.D., gave up two runs on two hits and one walk and was not credited with any innings pitched. Sophomore Rhett Pleggenkuhle of Van Meter threw a third of an inning and walked one batter and sophomore Zack Turpin of Waukee threw two-thirds of an inning and retired the only two batters he faced.
ICCC used a 10-run first inning to come away with the win in the opener on March 21 and the game was called after five innings because of the run rule. The Tritons added two runs in the second and three in the fourth. DMACC scored all three of its runs in the top of the fifth.
The Bears collected just three hits, singles by Owen, redshirt freshman Brayden Foster of Alleman and freshman Drake Obermueller of Iowa City. Foster drove in two DMACC runs and Obermueller had an RBI.
Sophomore Jordan Leininger of Fargo, N.D., started and fell to 2-2 with the loss. He pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing seven runs on six hits with one strikeout. Redshirt freshman Hunter Cook of Polk City went two and two-thirds innings, allowing seven runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and a walk and redshirt freshman Jack Bunnell of Eddyville gave up one run on one hit with two strikeouts and a walk in two-thirds of an inning.
DMACC had an 11-4 after six innings in the second game on March 21 but ICCC rallied with a run in the seventh, three in the eighth and two in the ninth to get the win.
Owen and Foster again paced the Bears at the plate with two hits apiece and Baumgart and sophomore Brady Walton of Waukee hit doubles. Baumgart led the Bears in RBIs with three.
Sophomore Gage Miler of Mandan, N.D., started for DMACC and went four and two-thirds innings. He allowed five runs on three hits with six strikeouts and five walks. Redshirt freshman Jackson Gwin of Lafayette, Ind., threw an inning and two-thirds, allowing two runs on two hits with three strikeouts and a walk and sophomore Sebastian Talaga of Palo Hills, Ill., walked one batter and struck out one but was not credited with any innings pitched. Freshman Grayson Kirsch of Marion worked an inning and two thirds and gave up three runs on four hits with two strikeouts and three walks and freshman Teeghen Rath of Cedar Falls pitched a third of an inning, allowing two runs on two hits with one walk and one strikeout. He fell to 0-1 with the loss.
The DMACC baseball team will face Northeast (Neb.) Community College (NENCC) on March 25 at the DMACC baseball diamond. The Hawks are 17-12 overall and their matchup against the Bears will be their first conference outing of the season.
