MASON CITY, Iowa – NIACC softball had problems offensively during 7-0 and 4-3 losses to DMACC on Tuesday.
In game one, they couldn’t hit. In game two, they couldn’t get the hits needed to tie or take the lead. The sweep ended NIACC’s regular season at 11-31, and 1-27 in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference.
DMACC (33-18, 19-9) pitcher Mari Silliman struck out 13 Trojans in game one, allowed only two hits, and retired 16 straight to end the game. The Trojans never got a runner past first base in game one and stranded three runners on third base in game two.
Cassie Pappas (Fr., Mason City, IA) led NIACC in hitting with a 4-for-7 day. Krista Grutz (Fr., Dubuque, IA) recorded three hits in game two to go 3-for-7.
DMACC’s offense struggled at times to score as well, but got consistent play from Jayden Ott, who was 5-for-7 during the doubleheader. Sydney McCune broke open game one with three RBI and three hits.
Pappas and Anne Studer (Fr., Titonka, IA) recorded NIACC’s only game one hits. The Trojans didn’t get a hit after the second inning and drew no walks the entire game.
Silliman averaged 5.33 strikeouts per game coming in and had a strikeout in every inning. She struck out 10 of the last 16 batters she faced.
All seven of DMACC’s game one runs came with two outs. DMACC left five runners in scoring position in the opening three innings, but McCune was able to put the visitors in front with a two RBI single in the fourth. DMACC then cashed in with a five-run fifth inning with the help of two NIACC errors.
The Trojans had opportunities in game two, but couldn’t get that elusive hit to get runs. However, the NIACC defense buckled down and kept it close.
NIACC had a chance to take the lead in the bottom of the first after three singles loaded the bases with one out. Kaylor Tiffany (Fr., Cornville, AZ) popped out and Courtney Stephens (Fr., LeGrand, IA) grounded out to end the inning. NIACC had another chance to then tie the game at 1-1 in the fifth, but left Grutz on third base.
DMACC scored one run in the fourth and two runs in the sixth. NIACC responded in the bottom of the sixth when Studer laid down a bunt and beat out DMACC third baseman Carlee Grunder’s wild throw to first. The hit brought home Hailey Eckstein (Fr., Larsen, WI), and the throwing error allowed Tiffany to round third and score and make it 3-2.
The Bears came back with one in the seventh, but NIACC made it interesting late. With one out, Pappas belted a hit to right that went through outfielder Kylie Rabe’s legs, and allowed Grutz to score from first to make it 4-3. Pappas reached third on the play.
However, DMACC would shut out the Trojans from there. DMACC pitcher Kylie Perkins struck out Eckstein and got Tiffany to fly out to left to secure the 4-3 win.
The Trojans will be the eighth-seed at the Region XI Tournament on Thursday in Fort Dodge. They will play top-seeded Iowa Central at 3 p.m. in the first round of the double-elimination tournament.
GAME ONE
DMACC 000 250 0 – 7 9 0
NIACC 000 000 0 – 0 2 5
DMACC stats
Mari Silliman (11-6, 13 K) and Jayden Ott.
2B – Ott
Multiple hits – Sydney McCune 3, Ott 2
Multiple RBI – McCune 3
NIACC stats
Hailey Eckstein (4-14, 4 K, 5 BB, 1 HBP) and Lisa Jorgensen.
GAME TWO
DMACC 000 102 1 – 4 12 3
NIACC 000 002 1 – 3 9 0
DMACC Stats
Kylie Perkins (4-2, 2 K) and Ott.
2B – Ott
Multiple hits – Ott 3, Kylie Rabe 3, Carlee Grunder 2
NIACC stats
Jessica Robinett (6-12, 5 K, 1 BB) and Cassie Pappas.
Multiple hits – Pappas 3, Krista Grutz 3
