NICC softball plays first regular season games at Farley Park

By Kaleigh Tull, NICC work-study student

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) softball welcomed the Ellsworth Panthers and the Iowa Lakes Lakers for their first regular season games ever at Farley Park on March 21-22. This historic weekend for the team delivered solid pitching, a few home runs and even a walk-off winner.

GAME ONE (Ellsworth)

The Cougars struck early with one run in the first inning, thanks to a Natalie Nenne double, but the offense didn't strike again until the end of the game. The Panthers answered in the top of the second with two runs of their own. They tacked on one more in the top of the fourth and led 3-1 as NICC came to bat in the bottom of the fifth. The Cougars put up six runs in the frame and three more in the top of the sixth.

Jensen Beaton powered the lineup with a home run and two runs batted in (RBI), while Nenne and Brooke Matic each doubled. Bronwyn Harding kept the momentum going, driving in three runs, with Matic adding two more RBI of her own with her second hit in the inning. Despite Ellsworth pushing runs across in the second, fourth and seventh inning, they were no match for pitcher Addison Murilla, who only allowed eight hits, with four earned runs and had five strikeouts.

Game one performers:
Beaton - HR, 2 RBI, Sac Fly
Murilla - 7 IP, 5 SO

GAME TWO (Ellsworth)

After a good offensive game, the Cougars struggled to put runs on the board in the second contest against the Panthers, coming up short in a 4-3 loss. After falling behind early, the Cougars answered with a run in the bottom of the second inning. Ellsworth tacked on one in the fourth and controlled a 4-1 lead. The Cougars managed to score in the sixth and seventh inning, with Addie Vorwald and Allison Luka both hitting solo home runs but it wasn't enough.

Game two performers:
Vorwald - HR, RBI
Luka - HR, RBI

GAME ONE (Iowa Lakes)

The Cougars started the game off strong with a two-run home run from Nenna in the first inning, but the Lakers quickly answered. Scoring in each of the five innings, the Lakers built a large lead. Nenne was the leader of the Cougars offense, as she hit her second long ball in the fourth inning to make it an 8-3 Ellsworht lead. Despite her standout performance the Cougars dropped the game 11-3.

Game one performers:
Nenne - 2 HR, 3 RBI

GAME TWO (Iowa Lakes)

After a tough loss, the Cougars earned a tight 3-2 victory thanks to clutch late game offensive execution. NICC scored two runs in the fifth inning, with Matic adding an RBI single and later scoring on a throwing error by the Panthers catcher. The Lakers tied the game in the top of the sixth after Korilynn Christians tied the game with a home run to centerfield. The Cougars won it with a walk-off single by Adelyn Miller in NICC's final at-bat. Murilla was dominant in the circle all seven innings, only allowing four hits, two earned runs and striking out seven.

In the bottom of the seventh, Jensen Beaton walked to start the rally. Matic reached on an error, moving Beaton to third, and Natalie Nenne walked to load the bases. Miller then delivered with a single to score Beaton and win the game.

Game two performers:
Miller - 1B, RBI
Murilla - 7 IP, 7 SO