The first doubleheader on its home diamond, as well as conference opener, slipped away from the Marshalltown Community College softball team.

Ellsworth came away with a sweep on Monday as the Panthers jumped out early to take the opener, 7-2, and held on to win the finale, 9-6.

Marshalltown (5-9, 0-2) got huge Iowa Community College Athletic Conference Division II openers from its big bats in the middle, yet dropped a pair of contests in its first action since March 17.

Sophomore cleanup hitter Cayla Collins recorded six hits on the day. Her 4-for-4 performance in the opener tied the school record for hits in a game.

Freshman No. 3 hitter Hally Lenzine had three hits and reached base six times during the doubleheader.

Ellsworth (11-10, 3-3) jumped out quick in game one and never looked back. The Panthers scored two in the first then three in second against Marshalltown starter Taylor Daubenberger.

Daubenberger settled in the rest of the way and Ellsworth's final two runs came on a home run by Sam Aicher in the seventh inning.

The Tigers matched the Panthers with 11 hits, but were hurt by leaving 10 on base.

Lenzine went 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles. Collins had an RBI single in the third to move her career total to 78, one short of tying the program record. Krista Morris added an RBI single.

Marshalltown led 4-1 after two innings of game two, yet Ellsworth rallied to push ahead 9-4. The Tigers got the tying run to the plate in the seventh but could get no closer.

A nine-hit performance for the Tigers was led by two hits apiece by Megan Bolten, Megan Gott and Collins. Ellie Ladd finished with three RBIs, including a two-run single in MCC's four-run second inning.

Lenzine had a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh and Collins followed with a double. Bolten's liner to left field was caught to end the contest.

Ellsworth collected 13 hits, led by three from Josi VanHouten, as Marshalltown starting pitcher Rachel Robinson took the loss (nine runs allowed in 4 1/3 innings). Stefanie Brown did not allow a hit in 2 2/3 innings of relief.

The Tigers travel to Muscatine this afternoon for a doubleheader against the ICCAC Division I Cardinals.