• Win in the final game of the series ends six-game losing streak
• Freshmen Adam Leininger and Brock Moore drove in four runs apiece in 14-3 win
• Sophomore Carter Woollums improves to 3-1 with the victory

Freshmen Brock Moore of Urbandale and Adam Leininger of Fargo, N.D., had two home runs and four runs batted in apiece as the DMACC baseball team ended a six-game losing streak with a 14-3 win over Butler County Community College (BCCC) in the final game of a four-game series March 2 at El Dorado, Kan.

The Bears dropped the first three games, losing by scores of 3-2 and 9-7 on February 28 and 10-9 in a single game on March 1.

The lone win in the series gives DMACC a 6-11 record thus far in the 2024-25 season.

The Bears were limited to three singles and got one RBI each from sophomore Matt Rivers of Colfax and freshman Blake Crancer of Normal, Ill., in losing the opener on Feb. 28. BCCC got the win on one run in each of the second, third and fourth innings and DMACC scored both of its runs in the fourth.

Sophomore Ty Thompson of Council Bluffs went the distance and fell to 3-1 with the loss. He allowed three runs on three hits, struck out 10 and walked two.

BCCC used a six-run rally in the second and scored three runs in the fourth to come away with the win in the second game. DMACC took a 1-0 lead in the first and led 4-0 on three runs in the top of the second before BCCC took a 6-4 lead with its rally in the bottom of the second. The Bears scored the last three runs in the top of the fourth.

Crancer and sophomores Colin Driscoll of Waukee and Carter Bryan of Johnston had two hits apiece for the Bears, including a home run by Driscoll and doubles from Crancer and Bryan. Rivers and sophomore Kaden Frommelt of Marion also doubled for DMACC. Crancer came away with three RBIs and Driscoll had two.

Sophomore Jaqson Tejada of Marion pitched the first inning and two-thirds, allowing six runs on three hits and two walks. Freshman Jordan Leininger of Fargo, N.D., went two innings, allowing three runs on three hits with a walk and a strikeout and fell to 0-1 with the loss. Freshman Gage Miller of Mandan, N.D., threw two and a third innings, allowing two hits and striking out two batters.

BCCC pushed a run across the plate in the bottom of the ninth for a 10-9 win in the lone game on March 1. DMACC led 1-0 after the first inning and trailed 2-1 after two innings. The Bears scored twice in the third and three times in the fourth and BCCC tallied a run in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 6-3 game. The Grizzlies went up 6-4 with a run in the bottom of the sixth and then fell behind 9-4 when DMACC scored three runs in the top of the eight. BCCC tied it with five runs in the bottom of the eighth before getting the win with its run in the ninth.

Sophomore Jackson Manning of Keosauqua and Bryan had two hits apiece for the Bears, including a double by Manning and he and Adam Leininger drove in three runs apiece with Bryan bringing two runs home. Adam Leininger, Frommelt and freshman Cole Baumgart of Clarinda also doubled for the Bears.

Sophomore Konner Entz of West Fargo, N.D., pitched five and a third innings for DMACC, allowing four runs on six hits with six strikeouts and three walks. Freshman Rhett Pleggenkuhle of Van Meter went two and a third innings and gave up four runs on one hit with two walks. Freshman Nick Cox of Polk City fell to 0-2 with the loss. He went two-thirds of an inning, allowing two runs on two hits and walking two batters.

DMACC never trailed in winning the final game of the series. The Bears led 2-0 after the first inning, 5-1 after three innings and 5-2 after five innings. They scored three runs in each of the sixth, seventh and eighth innings and allowed one run in the bottom of the eighth.

Rivers also homered and drove in two runs for DMACC and Adam Leininger and Manning hit doubles.

Sophomore Carter Woollums of Johnston went seven and a third innings and improved to 3-1 with the win. He allowed two runs on seven hits, struck out six and walked one. Sophomore Bobby Uthe of Ames went two-thirds of an inning, allowing one run and walking two batters and freshman Zach Turpin issued two walks but was not credited with any innings pitched.

The DMACC baseball team is scheduled to face Madison College (MC) in a doubleheader on March 7 but weather issues may cancel the games. Or the two teams could play March 8 or 9 depending on the weather.