NIACC drops tourney opener
CLINTON - The NIACC baseball team dropped a 2-1 decision to Southeastern in the opening round of the NJCAA Region XI tournament on Thursday at Ashford University Field.
Southeastern's Nick Boone scored from third when Gavin Logan coaxed a walk out of NIACC reliever Michael Sturek for the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Sturek relieved NIACC starter Michael Oh with the bases loaded and nobody out in the Southeastern ninth inning.
Oh (5-3) scattered seven hits, allowed two earned runs while striking out eight and walking three.
NIACC took a 1-0 lead in the seventh inning on an RBI single by Gabe Eckstaine, who plated Will Sturek.
Southeastern tied the game in the eighth inning on a double to right field by Bryce Simon.
Kyle Amendt gained the win in relief for Southeastern. Amendt allowed one hit and no runs in 1 1/3 innings work with three strikeouts and no walks.
NIACC faces Ellsworth game at 6 p.m. Friday in an elimination game. Iowa Central topped Ellsworth 9-0 in seven innings in the final first round game Thursday.
NJCAA Region XI tournament
Wednesday's result
Ellsworth 2, Iowa Lakes 1
Thursday's results
Kirkwood 5, Northeast CC 3
Southeastern 2, NIACC 1
Iowa Central 9, Ellsworth 0 (7)
Friday's games
Noon - DMACC vs. Kirkwood
3 p.m. - Southeastern vs. Iowa Central
6 p.m. - NIACC vs. Ellsworth (elimination game)
