The Red Devils ? spearheaded by the bat of freshman Anthony Talpa ? split a four-game series with visiting Ellsworth Saturday and Sunday, with three of the four decided by two runs or fewer.

Allen started with a hard-fought 9-7 loss on Saturday, but rallied for an 8-7 victory in the finale.

Sunday?s fun started with a five-run fifth inning as Allen took home a 6-2 victory in the opener. But Ellsworth scored three in the top of the sixth to erase a 2-0 ACC lead to win, 3-2.

Saturday

Allen 8, Ellsworth 7

Talpa continued his torrid hitting with a double and home run, with three RBIs. His two-run double in the third pushed ACC ahead, 3-0, before Collin Godfrey chased him home with a single.

The Panthers pared the gap to 4-2 before Talpa went deep again with a solo blast before Shepherd and Galloway had RBI doubles in the bottom of the fifth. Martin then made it 8-2 with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth.

Any hopes for an easy victory evaporated in the top of the seventh. A three-run home run started things before a two-out rally had the Panthers within one and the tying run in scoring position.

But Allen?s Nicholas Walter slammed the door with a strikeout to end the game.

Martin added two hits, including a double, to aid Allen?s cause. Galloway, Shepherd and Garrett Rusch all doubled. Cale Clark singled twice. Martin and Colton Ayres singled.

Jack Bland picked up the win. He struck out eight over five innings. Seth Broadwell, Ethan Payne and Walter combined for six strikeouts over two innings of relief.

Sunday

Allen 6, Ellsworth 2

Sunday?s brilliant weather led to an early pitcher?s duel between Allen?s Payton Pudenz and Ellsworth?s Boston Doeschot. Robberse scored on a second-inning balk to even the score at 1-1.

Ellsworth pushed across a run in the top of the fifth for a 2-1 lead before Kyle Kleweno and Ayres started the bottom of the frame with singles. Rusch singled with one out to tie the score at 2-2. He came around to score on a wild pitch before Talpa came through again with a triple to make it 5-2. Talpa scored on another Panther error for the final tally.

Pudenz scattered five hits over five innings with three strikeouts. Brayden Thompson came on in relief, allowing one hit over two scoreless innings with five strikeouts.

Rusch singled twice with two RBIs to pace the ACC offense. Talpa had the team?s only extra base hit with a triple. Galloway, Martin, Shepherd, Kleweno and Ayres also singled.