• SECC takes opener on March 20, 2-1, and DMACC wins nightcap, 11-3
• SECC wins first game on March 21, 7-4, and DMACC takes second game, 8-3
• Freshman Sophie Maras of Johnston leads Bears with seven hits in the four games

The DMACC softball team opened Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) play with a four-game series against Southeastern Community College (SECC) March 20 and 21 at West Burlington and split the four games.

The two teams divided games on March 20 and 21. DMACC dropped the opener on March 20, 2-1, and won the second game, 11-3. The Bears fell again in the opener on March 21, 7-4, and won the nightcap, 8-3.

Freshman Sophie Maras of Johnston led DMACC in the four games, collecting seven hits. She is second in the ICCAC in hitting with a .594 average and leads the conference in runs batted in with 30.

SECC pushed across a run in the bottom of the sixth to take the first game on March 20. DMACC took a 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the third and SECC tied it in the bottom of the inning.

Freshmen Jada Collins of Des Moines, Delaney Kelley of Rock Island, Ill., and Sami Miller of Mason City paced the Bears with two hits apiece and Kelley drove in DMACC's lone run.

Freshman Alexis Lander of Onawa pitched the first four innings, allowing one run on five hits. She struck out one and walked one. Freshman Abby Flanagan of Coggon pitched two innings and suffered the loss. She allowed one run on one hit, struck out one and walked one.

Collins had two hits and drove in three runs and freshman Kamrin Wells of Topeka, Kan., doubled and homered and drove in two runs to lead DMACC in the second game. The Bears scored a pair of runs in the second, three in the fourth and four in the fifth to open up a 9-0 lead. SECC tallied three runs in the bottom of the fifth to make it a 9-3 game before DMACC put the game away with two runs in the top of the sixth.

Miller joined Wells with two RBIs in the game and Maras, Kelley, freshman Abby Archer of Van Meter and freshman Abby Husak of Polk City drove in one run apiece.

Freshman Ellie Jacobson of Humboldt went the distance for the win. She allowed three runs on five hits and struck out five batters.

Maras went 4-for-4 and freshman Kaylie Reynolds of Muscatine had three hits, in DMACC's loss in the opener on March 21. The Bears led 3-1 after the first inning, 3-2 after two innings and scored in the top of the fourth for a 4-2 advantage. SECC answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth and two in the bottom of the fifth to come away with the win.

Wells and Collins joined Reynolds with doubles in the game and Collins, Wells, Reynolds and freshman Jocelyn Long of Overland Park, Kan., drove in one run apiece.

Flanagan took the loss in three and two-thirds innings in the circle. She allowed five runs on 10 hits, struck out one and walked one. Jacobson pitched an inning and a third, allowing two runs on one hit. She struck out one batter.

Husak had three hits and Maras, Wells and Miller collected two apiece in DMACC's win in the second game. The Bears trailed 2-1 after three innings, but scored three runs in the fifth, one in the sixth and three in the seventh for the win.

Reynolds homered in the win, Maras had a triple and Collins came away with a double. Reynolds topped the Bears in RBIs with three, Collins drove in two and Husak and freshman Haley Forret of Van Meter drove in one run apiece.

Lander threw all seven innings and came away with the win. She allowed three runs on four hits, struck out two and walked three.

The DMACC softball team faces Iowa Lakes Community College (ILCC) in the Bears' home opener March 24. The two teams will play a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. ILCC is 1-5 this season.