It was a tough day to be a pitcher at Ed Barbour Field on Saturday, as the Iowa Central baseball team and Ellsworth split a doubleheader.

The Panthers claimed the opener, 17-8, with the Tritons rallying in the nightcap, 14-12.

In the win for Iowa Central (18-7 overall, 10-4 in ICCAC), Derek Kay went 3-for-4 with two homers, five RBI and four runs scored. Kay had a three-run homer in the eighth to put the Tritons up. 

Gavin Baker was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI and Devin Hurdle also hit a homer. Nate Mortimer scored three times and plated a pair of runs on two hits and Ben DeTaeye drove in a run and scored.

Brock Sailer and Baker struck out five each on the mound, Brock Johnson recorded two strikeouts and Kai Reum picked up the win, getting the final eight outs with four strikeouts. 

Max Holy collected four RBI and scored two runs in the opener with Mortimer going 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Hurdle also drove in a run and scored twice.

Jace Davidson had five strikeouts on the mound. 

Iowa Central hosts Iowa Lakes on Wednesday for a twinbill beginning at 1 p.m.

-By Dana Becker