CENTERVILLE, IOWA -- The Ellsworth baseball team snapped a 5-5 tie with a 4-run 9th inning to claim the 2nd game of a doubleheader against Indian Hills and gain a split of Wednesday's twinbill.  The Panthers posted a 9-7 victory after they were blanked in game one, 4-0.

ECC broke the 5-all deadlock in the nightcap thanks to a pair of unearned runs and a 2-run single by Jean Melean which proved to be the difference after IHCC tallied 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th.  The Panther runs in the final inning came on a wild pitch, a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch by Nick Chasey, and Melean's single that plated two.  Ellsworth pushed across 3 runs in the 3rd on an infield single by Sergio Natera and a throwing error that allowed 2 runs to cross.  The Panthers tacked on unearned runs on a Diego Dinzey fielder's choice grounder in the 4th and Jose Valentin's sacrifice fly in the 7th.  Only 3 of ECC's 9 runs were earned as the Panthers took advantage of 7 Indian Hills errors. 

George Hansen started on the mound for Ellsworth and gave up 2 earned runs in his 3 innings.  Kaden Stewart provided 3 excellent innings of shutout relief, allowing just 1 hit and punching out 4 batters.  Logan Fragomeni picked up the win, going 2 innings, and Will Johnson earned a save by pitching the 9th.

The Panthers were held to just one hit -- a single by Chasey -- in the opener.  Indian Hills started fast with 3 runs in the bottom of the 1st against ECC starter Jake English, who threw the first 5 innings.  Dane Littell permitted an unearned run in his only inning.

The split leaves ECC a game under .500 at 9-10 as they head into a 3-game series at Iowa Western this weekend, 2 games on Saturday and 1 on Sunday.