- Marshalltown Community Colleges falls, 4-2 and 14-0
- Iowa Central Community College downed 23-9, 10-4, 11-8 and 9-4
- Bears score 71 runs and bang out 74 hits in six-game sweep
The DMACC softball team ran its winning streak to nine games with a six-game sweep of Marshalltown Community College (MCC) and Iowa Central Community College (ICCC) April 9, 10 and 11.
The Bears, ranked sixth in the most recent Division II poll from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), won both games against MCC April 9 at the DMACC softball diamond, 4-2 and 14-0, and then swept four games from ICCC April 10 and 11 at Fort Dodge. DMACC took a doubleheader on April 10, 23-9 and 10-4, and recorded 11-8 and 9-4 wins on April 11.
DMACC improved to 25-10 overall and 15-3 in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) in winning the six games. The Bears scored 71 runs and pounded out 74 base hits, including 28 extra-base hits. Freshman Sophie Maras of Johnston led the way with 13 hits in 24 at-bats, including five home runs, a triple and a double. She drove in nine runs.
Maras leads the ICCAC in batting average (.585), home runs (18) and stolen bases (28). She is second in runs batted in with 55.
DMACC scored single runs in the first, third, fourth and fifth in winning the first game against MCC. Maras and freshman Kaylie Reynolds of Muscatine led the Bears with two hits apiece, including a triple and a home run from Maras and a double and a triple by Reynolds. Freshman Abby Archer of Van Meter also homered for DMACC. Maras, Reynolds, freshman Sami Miller of Mason City and Archer drove in one run apiece.
Freshman Alexis Lander of Onawa threw all seven innings and came away with the win, improving to 10-2. She allowed two runs on seven hits, struck out nine and walked one.
Freshmen Abby Husak of Polk City and Delaney Kelley of Rock Island, Ill., had three hits apiece, including a double and a home run from Kelley and a double from Husak as DMACC took the second game. The Bears took a 4-0 lead in the first inning, added another run in the second and put the game out of reach with eight runs in the third and one in the fourth. The game was called because of the mercy rule after MCC batted in the top of the fifth.
Maras and Reynolds had two hits apiece in the win, including a pair of home runs from Maras and one each from freshman Haley Forret of Van Meter and Kelley. and freshman Haley Kelley drove in five runs and Forret drove in three runs with Maras coming away with two RBIs. Reynolds also doubled in the win.
Freshman Ellie Jacobson Humboldt threw the first three innings and got the win. She allowed two hits and struck out four. Freshman Abby Flanagan of Coggon pitched two innings, allowing one hit and striking out three batters.
Maras had four hits, including a double and a home run, and drove in four runs in DMACC's first win against ICCC. The Bears scored in every inning, getting two in the first, five in the second, four in the third, two in the fourth, two in the fifth and eight in the sixth. ICCC scored three runs in the second, five in the fourth and one in the fifth. Reynolds had three hits in the win and freshman Jada Collins of Des Moines, Kelley, Miller and Forret had two hits apiece. Collins had a double and Reynolds and Forret joined Maras with home runs. Forret also joined Maras with four RBIs, Collins and Kelley drove in three runs apiece and Reynolds and freshman Kamrin Wells of Topeka, Kan., had two RBIs apiece.
Lander went three and a third innings and got her 11th win of the season against two losses. She allowed eight runs on six hits, struck out two and walked three. Flanagan pitched two and two-thirds innings, allowing one run on four hits with two strikeouts and one walk.
DMACC used six runs in the third and two each in the fifth and sixth innings to take the second game on April 10. ICCC tallied three runs in the fourth and one in the fifth.
Kelley led DMACC's 14-hit attack with three hits and Maras, Wells and freshman Jocelyn Long of Overland Park, Kan., had two hits apiece. Kelley and Reynolds hit home runs and Miller and freshmen Zoey Wright of Ottumwa and Layney Loyd of New London hit doubles. Kelley and Long drove in two runs apiece.
Jacobson went the distance for the win. She allowed four runs on seven hits, struck out six and walked one.
DMACC trailed 2-1 after four innings in the opener on April 11, but scored four runs in the fifth, three in the sixth and three in the seventh to come away with the win. ICCC took a 2-0 lead in the first, scored once in the fifth and made the game interesting with five runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Maras and Husak led the Bears with three hits apiece and Collins, Reynolds and Kelley had two hits apiece. Extra base hits included doubles by Miller and Reynolds and home runs from Reynolds, Maras and freshman Tricia Sporaa of Madrid. Reynolds came away with three RBIs and Kelley had two.
Flanagan pitched six and two-thirds innings and got her sixth win of the season against two losses. She allowed eight runs on seven hits, struck out seven and walked three. Lander went a third of an inning, allowing one hit and striking out one batter.
Husak had two hits and Collins and Kelley drove in two runs apiece as DMACC closed out the series with its win in the second game on April 11. The Bears led 4-2 after the first inning and padded their advantage with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings and two runs in the sixth. ICCC scored twice in the first and added single runs in the third and seventh innings.
DMACC's lone extra-base hit was a double by Miller.
Jacobson pitched five and a third innings and improved to 7-4 with the win. She allowed three runs on four hits, struck out four and walked one. Lander went an inning and two-thirds, giving up one run on two hits and walking one batter.
The DMACC softball team will play a doubleheader against Southwestern Community College (SWCC) April 14 at Creston. SWCC is 16-21-1 overall and 9-13 in the ICCAC.