Clutch Hits and Comebacks Lead MCC to 3–1 Opening Series Win

The MCC baseball program opened its spring season last week with a four-game series against Ellsworth Community College, finishing the opening weekend with a 3–1 series victory.

Game 1

The Wolves jumped out to an early lead in the second inning. MCC scored first on a passed ball before Carson Schmidt delivered an RBI single to bring home Carter Belton.

Ellsworth threatened in the top of the fifth, loading the bases with no outs, but Trenton Mitchell worked out of the jam while allowing just one run to keep MCC in front, 2–1. That score held until the seventh inning, when the Panthers tied the game with an RBI double.

MCC answered immediately in the bottom of the inning. After a leadoff single by Jackson Bell, Zack Craft drove a ball to the wall, scoring Bell and securing a walk-off win for the Wolves.

Game 2

Ellsworth struck first in game two, scoring on a wild pitch in the top of the second inning. The Panthers' lead was short-lived, however, as Carter Belton launched a two-run home run over the left-field wall in the bottom of the inning to give MCC a 2–1 advantage.

Ellsworth regained the lead in the fourth, scoring twice on a pair of groundouts. The Wolves responded in the fifth when Shane Barnett hit a solo home run to tie the game, followed by an RBI single later in the inning from Brandon Moore that scored Carson Schmidt and put MCC ahead 4–3.

Walks proved costly for the Wolves in the seventh, as Ellsworth drew five free passes in the inning—two of which forced in runs—to take a 6–4 lead. MCC battled back in the bottom of the inning, collecting three hits and scoring twice to send the game to extra innings.

In the bottom of the eighth, Barnett delivered again, ripping a double to score the winning run. The clutch hit capped a 4-for-4 performance in which Barnett hit for the cycle.

Game 3

Game three told a different story. Ellsworth scored 11 runs over the first three innings to build an early advantage. MCC responded with a seven-run third inning to close the gap, and after both teams traded runs over the next two frames, the Panthers led 13–10 heading into the sixth.

Ellsworth pulled away in the sixth, scoring nine runs to secure a 22–10 victory.

Game 4

The Wolves and Panthers wrapped up the series with a tightly contested game four. Both teams scored two runs over the first three innings, leaving the game tied at 2–2. Ellsworth added two runs in the fourth to take the lead, but MCC answered with a four-run sixth inning to secure a 6–4 win and clinch the series victory.

MCC returns to action at home on Thursday, February 12, hosting Johnson County Community College for a doubleheader.