- DMACC collects 17 extra-base hits in the series
- Bears roll in two of their victories, winning 21-1 and 16-5
- Freshman Alexis Lander of Onawa records two wins in the series
The DMACC softball team improved to 19-10 overall and 9-3 in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) after winning three games in a four-game series against Kirkwood Community College (KCC) April 2 and 3 at the DMACC softball diamond.
The Bears, ranked ninth in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II poll, lost the opener on April 2, 15-10, and responded with a 21-1 win in the second game. The Bears took both games on April 3, 6-4 and 16-5.
KCC, ranked seventh in NJCAA Division II, broke a 10-10 tie with five runs in the top of the ninth to come away with the win in the first game on April 2. The Eagles led 4-0 after four innings, 7-5 after six innings and 10-5 after scoring three times in the top of the seventh. DMACC sent the game into extra innings with a five-run rally in the bottom of the seventh.
Freshman Delaney Kelley of Rock Island, Ill., led DMACC's 10-hit attack with three singles and two runs batted in and freshman Sophie Maras of Johnston belted a pair of home runs and drove in three runs. Freshman Haley Forret of Van Meter also had two hits in the win, including a home run, and drove in two runs.
Freshman Ellie Jacobson of Humboldt pitched the first six innings for the Bears, allowing seven runs on eight hits. She struck out six and walked four. Freshman Abby Flanagan of Coggon went three innings and suffered the loss. She allowed eight runs on six hits, struck out four and walked two.
DMACC opened the second game with a 10-run first inning and padded its advantage with six runs in the second, two in the third and three in the fourth. The game was called because of the mercy rule after KCC batted in the top of the fifth.
Maras and freshmen Abby Husak of Polk City, Jada Collins of Des Moines and Sami Miller of Mason City had three hits apiece, including a pair of home runs by Miller and one each from Collins and freshman Kaylie Reynolds of Muscatine. Collins came away in seven RBIs, Miller drove in four runs and Maras and freshman Zoey Wright of Ottumwa drove in two runs apiece. Collins and freshman Layney Loyd of New London hit doubles in the win.
Freshman Alexis Lander of Onawa went the distance to pick up her eighth win of the season against two losses. She allowed one run on three hits, struck out three and walked one.
DMACC scored four runs in the first and one each in the third and fourth innings to come away with the win in the opener on April 3. Collins led the Bears with a pair of singles and two RBIs and Reynolds and Miller each homered with Reynolds also driving in two runs.
Lander improved to 9-2 with the win. She allowed four runs on six hits, struck out 13 and walked three.
Miller hit a pair of home runs and drove in five runs for the Bears in the second game. DMACC all but put the game out of reach with 14 runs in the first inning and closed out the win with two runs in the third. The game was called because of the mercy rule after KCC batted in the top of the fifth.
Kelley led DMACC with three singles and Maras, Collins, Miller and freshman Kamrin Wells of Topeka, Kan., had two hits apiece. Collins and Reynolds each doubled in the win and Collins drove in four runs, Wells came away with three RBIs and Maras drove in two runs.
Maras leads the ICCAC in batting average at .578 and in home runs with 14. She is second in RBIs with 47. Reynolds is second to Maras in home runs with 12 and third in RBIs with 42.
Jacobson went two and a third innings, allowing four runs on two hits with two strikeouts and two walks. Flanagan pitched two and two-thirds innings, allowing one run on four hits. She struck out five, walked two and improved to 6-4 with the win.
The DMACC softball team will face Marshalltown Community College (MCC) in a doubleheader April 7 at the DMACC softball diamond. MCC is 4-23 overall and 2-11 in the ICCAC.
