• NIACC wins a doubleheader on April 4, 2-1 and 8-6
• DMACC takes a single game on April 6, 6-5
• Sophomore Jackson Manning and freshman Adam Leininger drive in runs in DMACC's win

Sophomore Jackson Manning of Keosauqua and freshman Adam Leininger of Fargo, N.D., drove in two runs apiece as the DMACC baseball team handed North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) a 6-5 loss in a nine-inning game April 6 at Mason City, salvaging a win in the Bears' three-game series against the Trojans. NIACC swept both games of a doubleheader on April 4, 2-1 and 8-6.

The Bears now stand at 12-20 overall and 6-8 in the Iowa Community College Athletic Association (ICCAC) Division II standings.

DMACC never trailed in its win. The Bears took a 1-0 lead in the first and made it a 5-0 game with four runs in the fourth. They added an insurance run in the fourth and NIACC tallied two of its runs in the third and scored three in the fifth.

Sophomore Carter Bryan of Johnston collected two of DMACC's five hits in the game, including a triple.

Sophomore Konner Entz of West Fargo, N.D., pitched the first four innings for DMACC, allowing two runs on five hits with five strikeouts and a walk. Freshman Jordan Leininger of Fargo, N.D., improved to 1-1 with the win. He worked four and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and freshman Gage Miller of Mandan, N.D., earned his second save of the season in just a third of an inning, striking out the only batter he faced.

NIACC scored two runs in the first inning of the first game on April 4 in coming away with the win, allowing the Bears a run in the top of the third.

DMACC had just two hits in the game, singles by freshman Blake Crancer of Normal, Ill., and sophomore Colin Driscoll of Waukee. Crancer drove in the lone DMACC run.

Sophomore Ty Thompson of Council Bluffs pitched all six innings and suffered his third loss of the season against two wins. He allowed two runs on three hits, struck out 12 and walked two.

NIACC used a four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh to come away with the win in the second game. DMACC broke a 1-1 tie with a run in the top of the second and trailed 4-2 after NIACC scored three runs in the bottom of the third. DMACC's three-run rally in the fifth gave the Bears a 5-4 lead before NIACC went up 8-5 with its seventh-inning rally. DMACC made it a two-run game with a run in the top of the ninth.

Freshman Cole Baumgart of Clarinda led DMACC at the plate with two hits, including a double, and freshmen Archer Ogbourne of Carlisle and Jake Espeland of Des Moines belted home runs. The Bears also got doubles from Manning and sophomore Kaden Frommelt of Marion. Espeland led DMACC in RBIs with two.

Sophomore Jaqson Tejada of Marion pitched the first two innings for the Bears, allowing four runs on three hits with four walks. Freshman Andrew Theiss of Clear Lake suffered the loss to fall to 1-2 for the season. He pitched four and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs on three hits with two strikeouts and two walks. Freshman Rhett Pleggenkuhle of Van Meter worked a third of an inning, allowing one run on one hit with one strikeout and two walks and freshman Nick Cox of Polk City pitched a third of an inning and struck out one of the two batters he faced.

The DMACC baseball team will play Marshalltown Community College (MCC) in a single game April 8 at Marshalltown. MCC, a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I program, is 13-18 overall and 1-3 in Division I of the ICCAC. The Tigers' losses include a 14-0 loss to the Bears March 26 at the DMACC baseball diamond.