The Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) softball team took a giant step toward its second consecutive Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) title by sweeping both games of a doubleheader against Kirkwood Community College (KCC) April24 at Cedar Rapids.

The Bears, ranked second in the most recent Division II poll from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), extended their current winning streak to five games with a 4-1 win in the opener and made it six straight wins with a 7-4 decision in the second game. DMACC improved to 34-5 for the season and 17-1 in the ICCAC. KCC, ranked sixth in NJCAA Division II, fell to 35-11 and 15-3. The Eagles are second to DMACC in the league standings.

Freshman Ally Pickering of Winterset and sophomore Ellie Dixon of Iowa City had two hits apiece for DMACC in the opener and Pickering, freshman Morgan Lewis of Cedar Rapids and sophomore Avery Guy of Cedar Rapids drove in one run apiece. DMACC led all the way, scoring twice in the top of the fourth and adding single runs in the fifth and sixth. KCC tallied its lone run in the bottom of the seventh.

Freshman Josie Swafford of Wellston, Okla., pitched all seven innings for the Bears, allowing one run on four hits. She struck out seven and walked six.

Lewis had three hits, including a double, and sophomore Mia Ruther of Burlington, Guy and freshman Elly Schuemann of Marion collected two hits apiece for DMACC in the second game. The Bears took a 3-0 lead in the first and used a three-run rally in the fourth to open up a 6-1 advantage. KCC made it a 6-3 game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth and both teams scored one run apiece in the seventh inning.

Ruther came away with two RBIs in the win and Guy, Pickering and Scheumann each drove in one run.

Freshman Dana Dunbar of Chadron, Neb., pitched the first three and a third innings for DMACC and earned the win. She allowed one run on four hits, struck out two and walked one. Sophomore Peyton Parker of La Porte City threw one inning, allowing two runs on two hits. She struck out one and walked one. Freshman Ally Anderson of Atlantic went two-thirds of an inning, allowing one run on one hit, and Swafford went two innings, striking out two and walking one.

The DMACC softball team will face Iowa Lakes Community College (ILCC) in a doubleheader today at Estherville. The Lakers are 14-28 overall and 5-15 in the ICCAC. DMACC defeated ILCC in a doubleheader April 6 at the DMACC softball diamond, winning by scores of 9-1 and 12-4.