Freshman Morgan Nealey of Urbandale hit a grand slam home run to lead the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) softball team to a 9-1 win over Iowa Central Community College (ICCC) in the second game of a doubleheader April 22 at the DMACC softball diamond.
The Bears also took the opener, 6-1, to improve to 34-0 for the season and 16-0 in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC).
DMACC, ranked first in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II poll, also swept doubleheaders from North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) and Ellsworth Community College (ECC over the weekend. The Bears defeated NIACC by scores of 10-0 and 9-1 April 21 at the DMACC softball diamond and handed ECC 4-1 and 7-2 losses in games April 20 at Iowa Falls.
Freshman Kelsey Hora of Ainsworth had three hits and freshman Mia Ruther of Burlington came away with two in DMACC's second-game win over ICCC. The Bears opened up a 6-1 lead with six runs in the bottom of the third and added to their advantage with a run in the fourth and two in the fifth, when the game was called because of the mercy rule. Ruther, sophomore Bre Hunter of Boone, freshman Avery Guy of Cedar Rapids and Hora drove in one run apiece.
Sophomore Gabby Schnathorst of Carlisle went the distance to get the win. She allowed one run on five hits, struck out 10 and walked one.
Sophomore Molly Jacobsen of Adel had a pair of hits and two runs batted in and freshman Kaisha Wells of Topeka, Kan., homered and drove in three runs to lead DMACC in the opener. The Bears led the entire game, scoring twice in the first, once in the second and three times in the third.
Jacobsen scattered three hits, surrendered one run and struck out 12 batters to come away with the win.
Jacobsen was also the winner in the opener against NIACC, allowing one hit, striking out eight and walking one.
Nealey and sophomore Taylor Briley of Creston drove in three runs apiece to lead DMACC at the plate. Jacobsen and Briley had a pair of hits in the win and Guy collected two RBIs.
Hunter homered and Nealey had three hits and an RBI to lead DMACC at the plate in the second game against NIACC. Ruther, sophomore Bailey Richards of Des Moines, Hunter, Briley and Guy had two hits apiece in the win and Ruther drove in a pair of runs.
Freshman Taylor Graven of Greene pitched the first four innings and came away with the win. She allowed one run on one hit, struck out five and walked one. Freshman Peyton Parker of La Porte City threw two innings and walked one batter.
Jacobsen allowed one run on two hits, struck out nine and walked one in DMACC's first-game win over ECC. Nealey paced the Bears at the plate with four hits, including a pair of doubles, and Ruther collected two base hits. Hunter drove in a pair of runs in the win.
Jacobsen had two hits and drove in three runs and Hunter came away with a pair of RBIs in DMACC's win in the second game. Ruther, Richards, Hunter, Briley, Guy and Hora had hits in the win, including a double by Hora and a triple from Ruther.
Parker pitched the first three innings, allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts and a walk. Schnathorst went four innings and was credited with the win. She allowed one run on two hits, struck out nine and walked two.
The DMACC softball team will face Kirkwood Community College (KCC) in a doubleheader April 25 at the DMACC softball team. The Eagles are 36-6 overall and 13-3 in the ICCAC with two of those loses coming against the Bears when the two teams played April 11 at Cedar Rapids. KCC is currently ranked third in the NJCAA Division II poll. The Eagles were second to DMACC when they hosted the doubleheader on April 11.
