• Dallas Eastfield College sweeps doubleheader from DMACC
• Northern Oklahoma College-Enid takes first game of a doubleheader
• Sophomore Adam Leininger drives in four runs in Bears' win in the second game

The DMACC baseball team returned from a Texas and Oklahoma road trip with a 5-7 record after dropping a doubleheader against Dallas Eastfield College (DEC) on February 16 at Dallas, Texas, and splitting a doubleheader against Northern Oklahoma College-Enid on Feb. 17 at Enid, Okla.

DEC swept the doubleheader by scores of 6-4 and 10-6 and DMACC handed NOCE a 6-0 loss after losing the opener, 5-4.

Sophomore Adam Leininger of Fargo, N.D., and freshman Nolan Galla of Warrenville, Ill., each homered in the Bears' loss in the opener on Feb. 16. DMACC took a 1-0 lead in the first and led 2-1 after both teams scored a run in the third. The Bears went up 3-1 with a run in the fifth but DEC battled back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to gain a 3-3 tie. Both teams scored single runs in the seventh and DEC got the win with two runs in the bottom of the eighth.

Leininger and sophomore Jake Espeland of Des Moines paced the Bears' six-hit attack with two hits apiece. Leininger had a single to go with his home run and Espeland doubled. Leininger, sophomore Brock Moore of Urbandale and freshman Maverick DeVeau of Kendallville, Ind., drove in one run apiece.

Sophomore Andrew Theiss of Clear Lake started on the mound for DMACC and allowed three runs on three hits with six strikeouts and four walks in four and two-thirds innings. Freshman Brett Engele of Oakdale, Mont., struck out three and walked one in an inning and two-thirds and sophomore Rhett Pleggenkuhle of Van Meter allowed three runs on four hits and struck out in one inning on the mound.

DEC used five runs in the first, one in the second, three in the fourth and one in the fifth to come away with the win in the second game. DMACC scored four runs in the fourth and one each in the fifth and seventh innings.

DMACC was limited to just four hits, including a pair of home runs and six RBIs by sophomore Austin Andersen of Marion. Sophomore Blake Crancer of Normal, Ill., doubled for DMACC.

Redshirt freshman Jackson Gwin of Lafayette, Ind., worked the first three and two-thirds innings for the Bears, allowing nine runs on 11 hits and a walk. Freshman Vincent Clawson of Rhodes threw two and a third innings, allowing one run on two hits with a pair of strikeouts.

NOCE pushed two runs across the plate in the bottom of the seventh to get the win in the opener on Feb. 17. DMACC led 3-1 after scoring three runs in the third and NOCD gained a 3-3 tie with one run in each of the third and fourth innings. DMACC went ahead 4-3 with a run in the top of the seventh.

The Bears were limited to just three hits, including a home run by Leininger, who had DMACC's only extra-base hit and drove in two runs.

Freshman Grayson Kirsch of Marion pitched the first two innings for the Bears, allowing one run on two hits with three strikeouts. Redshirt freshman Jack Sellnau of Anamosa went an inning and two-thirds, allowing two runs on four hits with one strikeout and one walk. Freshman Greg Noel of Moorhead, Minn., walked two batters in two-thirds of an inning and freshman Jacob Luster of Huxley issued three walks in one and two-thirds innings on the mound. Engele suffered the loss to fall to 0-1 for the season. He pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing two runs and walking three batters. Sophomore Zack Turpin of Waukee allowed one hit and walked one batter but was not credited with any innings pitched.

Sophomore Gage Miller of Mandan, N.D., allowed just two hits and struck out four in pitching a complete game in DMACC's win in the second game.

DMACC never trailed in scoring two runs in the first, two in the second and two in the sixth.

Leininger paced the Bears at the plate with three hits, including a home run and a double, and drove in four runs. Freshman Drew Owen of Alleman had a pair of singles and drove in one run.

The DMACC baseball team hits the road again Feb. 27 and 28 for a four-game series against Butler Community College (BCC) in El Dorado, Kan. Following that series, the Bears will return to Enid, Okla., to face NOCE again.