The Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) softball team improved to 18-0 for the season after sweeping a doubleheader from the Simpson College junior varsity March 28 at Indianola.
Sophomore Molly Jacobsen of Adel pitched a two-hitter and struck out 16 batters as the Bears took the opener, 4-0. Sophomore Gabby Schnathorst of Carlisle and freshman Alexis Groet of Oskaloosa combined on a one-hitter and freshmen Kaisha Wells of Topeka, Kan., and Morgan Nealey of Urbandale drove in three runs apiece in an 11-0 win in the nightcap. The second game was called because of the mercy rule after the Simpson JV batted in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Freshman Mia Ruther of Burlington had three hits and Schnathorst homered and drove in two runs as DMACC, ranked second in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II poll, took the opener with a four-run rally in the top of the seventh. Nealey had a pair of hits in the win and sophomore Taylor Briley of Creston drove in a run.
Jacobson improved to 8-0 with the win. She faced 23 batters and threw 89 pitches, 68 of which were strikes.
DMACC scored six runs in the first inning of the second game and put the game away with a run in the second and four runs in the third.
Ruther led DMACC's 13-hit attack with three singles and Nealey, Wells, freshman Avery Guy of Cedar Rapids, sophomore Bre Hunter of Boone and freshman Kelsey Hora of Ainsworth had two hits apiece, including a double by Wells. Guy also drove in a pair of runs.
Schnathorst pitched the first four innings and improved to 4-0 with the win. She allowed one hit, struck out seven and walked one. Groet pitched one inning, striking out two batters and walking three.
The DMACC softball team will face Northeast (Neb.) Community College (NECC) in a doubleheader March 30 at the DMACC softball diamond. The first game will begin at 2 p.m. NECC is 11-11 for the season.