The Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) softball team improved to 10-0 for the season with victories over Itawamba Community College (ICC) and East Mississippi Community College (EMCC).
The Bears, ranked second in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II poll, defeated ICC by scores of 2-1 and 8-7 on March 12 and handed EMCC a 12-4 loss on March 13. All three games were played in Mississippi.
Sophomore Molly Jacobsen of Adel won her fourth game of the season behind a three-hitter and freshman Kaisha Wells of Topeka, Kan., hit a solo home run to lead DMACC to its win over ICC in the opener. Sophomore Bailey Richards of Des Moines had a pair of singles and an RBI in the win and freshmen Avery Guy of Cedar Rapids and Mia Ruther of Burlington each doubled.
Jacobsen struck out nine batters and walked two in getting the win.
Sophomore Taylor Briley of Creston hit a solo home run and Ruther, Richards and freshman Kelsey Hora of Ainsworth had two hits apiece to lead DMACC to its win in the second game. Guy, sophomore Bre Hunter of Boone and freshman Morgan Nealey of Urbandale also drove in runs for the Bears.
Sophomore Gabby Schnathorst of Carlisle pitched the first three and two-thirds innings, allowing six runs on five hits. She walked one batter and three of the five runs scored against her were earned. Freshman Alexis Groet of Oskaloosa worked three and a third innings and came away with the win. She allowed one run on one hit, struck out five and walked three.
Briley had three hits, including a home run, and drove in three runs in DMACC's win over EMCC. Guy also had three hits, including a double, and drove in a pair of runs and Nealey had two hits and two RBIs. Ruther also had a pair of hits in the game.
Groet worked five innings and came away with the win. She allowed three runs on four hits, struck out seven and walked three. Freshman Peyton Parker of La Porte City pitched one inning, allowing one hit and walking three batters and freshman Taylor Graven of Greene worked one inning, allowing one hit and striking out one batter.
The DMACC softball team faces Northeast Mississippi Community College (NEMCC) in a doubleheader today at Booneville, Miss.