The Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) softball team ran its winning streak to 10 consecutive games with doubleheader sweeps of Northeast (Neb.) Community College (NENEB) and Iowa Lakes Community College (ILCC).
The Bears, ranked fourth in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II poll, defeated NENEB 8-0 and 11-1 April 5 at the DMACC softball diamond and handed ILCC 9-1 and 12-4 losses on April 6, also at the DMACC softball diamond.
The wins give the Bears a 27-4 record and a 10-0 mark in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC).
Freshman Josie Swafford of Wellston, Okla., threw a one-hitter and had two hits and two runs batted in for DMACC in its opening win against NENEB. The Bears took a 4-0 lead in the first inning, added a run in the third, two in the fourth and one in the fifth when the game was called because of the mercy rule.
Freshmen Morgan Lewis of Cedar Rapids and Maddie Karr of Center Point and sophomore Avery Guy of Cedar Rapids joined Swafford with two hits apiece in the win, including a double by Karr. Freshman Ally Pickering of Winterset joined Swafford with two RBIs in the game.
Swafford improved to 11-1 with the win. She struck out seven and walked one.
Lewis and sophomore Mia Ruther of Burlington had three hits and two RBIs apiece for DMACC in the second game. The Bears scored twice in the bottom of the first for a 2-0 lead and increased their advantage to 6-0 with four runs in the second. They closed out the win with three runs in the third and two in the fourth and the game was called because of the mercy rule after NENEB batted in the top of the fifth.
Freshman Ally Anderson of Atlantic and sophomore Ellie Dixon of Iowa City had two hits apiece, including a pair of doubles by Anderson, and Guy and Dixon each drove in two runs.
Anderson pitched the first three innings and improved to 4-0 with the win. She allowed one run on one hit struck out two and walked one. Sophomore Peyton Parker of La Porte City threw two hitless innings, striking out three batters and walking one.
Swafford threw a four-hitter and belted a home run for DMACC in the opener against ILCC. The Bears broke a scoreless tie with six runs in the bottom of the third and put the game away with two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth, ending the game because of the mercy rule.
Lewis, Guy and Swafford had two hits each in the win, including a double by Guy, who drove in three runs.
Swafford allowed one run on four hits and struck out nine to run her record to 12-1 for the season.
Karr had three hits, including two doubles, and drove in three runs to lead DMACC in the second game. The Bears grabbed a 5-0 lead in the first and led 6-3 after four innings. A six-run rally in the sixth ended the game because of the mercy rule.
Guy, freshman Elly Schuemann of Marion and Anderson had two hits apiece, including two triples by Guy, and Dixon drove in two runs.
Anderson improved to 5-0 with the win. She pitched four innings, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out three and walking one. Parker worked two innings, allowing one run on four hits.
The DMACC softball team is idle until April 13th when the Bears host Kirkwood Community College (KCC) in a doubleheader at the DMACC softball diamond. KCC, ranked seventh in NJCAA Division II, is 25-8 overall and 8-2 in the ICCAC.
