After opening the 2018 season with six consecutive losses, the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) baseball team has leveled its record at 6-6 with six consecutive wins.

The winning streak began with a 9-0 win over Western Tech on March 3 and continued with sweeps of North Arkansas College (NAC) and Dakota College of Battineau (DCB) March 9 to 12 at Harrison, Ark.

The Bears defeated NAC by scores of 4-2 and 12-1 on March 9 and handed the Pioneers 17-1 and 21-13 losses on March 11. DMACC took a 15-5 decision from DCB on March 12.

Sophomore Matt Krambeck of Omaha, Neb., and freshman Jakob Richardson of Cave Creek, Ariz., had two hits apiece, including solo home runs, to lead the Bears past NAC in eight innings in the opener on March 9. Freshman Tavien Gillette of Rock Island, Ill., also had two hits in the win and joined Krambeck and Richardson with an RBI. Freshman Calen Schwabe of Thompson, N.D., also drove in a run for DMACC.

Sophomore Alex Holcomb of Owatonna, Minn., pitched the first six innings for DMACC, allowing two runs on six hits. He struck out eight and walked three. Richardson pitched two innings and recorded his first win of the season after Krambeck homered and Schwabe singled in a run in the top of the eighth. Schwabe allowed one hit, struck out one and walked three.

Gillette had two hits and drove in three runs as the Bears took the second game on March 9. Freshman Austin Murr of Denmark, Minn., Krambeck, Richardson and Schwabe also had two hits apiece in the win and Murr, who homered and doubled, and Schwabe drove in two runs apiece.

Sophomore John Werner of Burlington went the distance and notched his first win of the season. He allowed one run on four hits and struck out seven batters.

Schwabe had four hits, including a double, and Murr recorded three hits, including a triple, as DMACC took the opener on March 11. Richardson, sophomore Jeremy Lovera of Allentown, Penn., and freshmen Denver Blinn of West Fargo, N.D., had two hits apiece in the win and Murr, Richardson and Lovera drove in three runs apiece. Schwabe, sophomore Austin Weiler of Olathe, Kan., and freshman Roman Vega of Buffalo, Minn, drove in two runs apiece.

Freshman Spencer Hanson of West Des Moines, pitched the first five innings and improved to 2-0 with the win. He allowed one run on four hits, struck out seven and walked five. Freshman Sam Laakso of Duluth, Minn., pitched one inning and allowed three hits.

Krambeck, Vega and Lovera each homered to give the Bears the victory in the second game of March 11. Murr, Gillette and Lovera had four hits apiece and Krambeck and Blinn had three hits each. Murr, Krambeck and Lovera recorded four RBIs apiece and Gillette drove in two runs.

Freshman Nate Holliday of Muscatine pitched the first three innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits with three strikeouts. Freshman Jackson Uner of Stillwater, Minn., pitched two innings and earned his first decision of the season. He allowed two hits, struck out one and walked one. Weiler pitched an inning and two-thirds, allowing six runs on ten hits and struck out one batter and freshman Jacob Pinkerton of Beatrice, Neb., pitched a third of an inning, retiring the only batter he faced.

Lovera hit two home runs and drove in six runs and Krambeck had a pair of base hits, including a home run, and drove in two runs in DMACC's win over DCB on March 12. Blinn paced the Bears' 13-hit attack with four hits and Murr had three, including a double. Gillette drove in three runs and Murr joined Krambeck with two RBIs.

Sophomore Luke Longmuir of Cottage Grove, Minn., pitched the first six innings and improved to 1-2 with the win. He allowed three runs on seven hits, struck out four and walked two. Laakso worked one inning, allowing two runs on one hit and walking one batter.

The DMACC baseball team closes out its Arkansas trip with a doubleheader against Arkansas Baptist today at Springdale, Ark.