Sophomore Molly Jacobsen of Adel tossed a pair of one-hitters and sophomore Bailey Richards of Des Moines and freshmen Morgan Nealey of Urbandale and Kaisha Wells of Topeka, Kan., homered in each game as the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) softball team defeated Iowa Lakes Community College (ILCC) twice to win the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XI-A Softball Tournament May 4 and 5 at the DMACC softball diamond.
The Bears topped the Lakers 21-0 in a winner's bracket game on May 4 and came away with a 17-0 victory in the championship game on May 5 to claim the title. Both games were called after five innings because of the mercy rule.
DMACC, ranked first the the NJCAA Division II poll, improved to 42-0 with the wins.
ILCC defeated Northeast (Neb.) Community College (NECC) in the first round on May 4 to earn a shot at DMACC in the winner's bracket game and then topped NECC again on May 5 to move into the championship game in the double-elimination tournament.
Jacobsen struck out 10 batters and threw 56 pitches, including 43 strikes, in defeating ILCC on May 4 for her 21st win of the season. Nealey, Wells, Richards and sophomore Gabby Schnathorst of Carlisle backed Jacobsen with home runs. Richards and Wells had three hits apiece and freshman Mia Ruther of Burlington, Avery Guy of Cedar Rapids, Kelsey Hora of Ainsworth and Jacobsen and sophomore Bre Hunter of Boone had two hits apiece. Schnathorst and Richards drove in four runs apiece and Ruther, Nealey, Jacobsen, Wells and Guy had two RBIs apiece.
DMACC scored two runs each in the first and second innings and took control of the game with 13 runs in the bottom of the third. The Bears closed out the win with four runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Jacobsen improved to 22-0 with her win on May 5. In addition to allowing one hit, she struck out eight and walked one. Jacobsen threw 71 pitches, including 48 strikes.
Nealey, Wells, Richards and sophomore Taylor Briley of Creston homered in the game. Nealey sparked DMACC's 16-hit attack with three hits and Ruther, and Guy had two hits apiece. Nealey drove in five runs, Wells had three RBIs and Ruther, Richards, Jacobsen and Briley had two RBIs apiece.
DMACC took a 2-0 lead in the first, padded its advantage with five runs in the second and put the game away with seven runs in the third and three in the fourth.
The DMACC softball team will face Dawson Community College (DCC) in the NJCAA District H Softball Tournament May 10 and 11 at the DMACC softball tournament. DCC, located in Glendive, Mont., brings a 21-14 record into the double-elimination tournament.
The District H champion advances to the NJCAA Division II Softball Championship May 16 to 19 at Clinton, Miss. DMACC is seeking its fifth consecutive appearance in the national tournament and its sixth appearance in the past seven seasons
