CEDAR RAPIDS – The NIACC baseball team dropped a 13-5 decision to DMACC in the second round of the NJCAA Region XI tournament Friday on the Mount Mercy University campus.
DMACC (36-20) scored six of its seven innings. including three in the fifth, three in the sixth and four in the seventh. The Bears’ leadoff hitter Jake Brill was 4-for-5, including two doubles, with one RBI.
If top-seed Kirkwood beats fourth-seed Southeastern in the 2 p.m. game Friday at the regional tournament, NIACC (34-18) plays in an elimination game at 11 a.m. Saturday. If Southeastern tops Kirkwood, NIACC plays sixth-seed Northeast CC at 5 p.m. Friday.
In Friday’s game, DMACC pounded out 18 hits to score its 13 runs. Seven Bears collected at least two hits.
NIACC relief pitcher Ben Rosin (1-2) took the loss allowing four runs on four hits in 1 2/3 innings of work. Rosin struck out four and walked one.
NIACC starter Connor Wietgrefe allowed five runs on 10 hits with seven strikeouts and one walk in 4 1/3 innings of work.
NIACC’s Cody Kelly, Cayden Nicoletto, Cole Fuecker and Lincoln Berry all had two hits. The Trojans’ Gunnar Hansen hit a solo home run in the fifth inning, his first career home run.