The Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) softball team began the 2018 season with three victories in the Cowtown Classic at Fort Worth, Texas.

The Bears, ranked fourth in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II poll, defeated Seminole (Okla.) State College (SSC), 1-0, in their tournament opener on Feb. 16 and then handed Navarro (Texas) Community College (NCC) an 8-6 loss in their second game on Feb. 16. DMACC wrapped up the day with a 9-8 win over Ranger (Texas) Community College (RCC). SCC is ranked 12th in NJCAA Division I.

A game against Highland (Kan.) Community College (HCC) on Feb. 16 and games against North Central Texas College (NCTC) and Galveston College (GC) on Feb. 17 were cancelled because of rain.

Sophomore Molly Jacobsen of Adel pitched a four-hitter and struck out 10 batters and sophomore Bailey Richards of Des Moines drove in the game's only run in the top of the sixth inning in DMACC's win over SCC. Freshman Mia Ruther of Burlington scored the lone run, reaching base on a walk and scoring on a single by Richards.

DMACC had five hits in the win, getting singles from Richards, sophomores Bre Hunter of Boone and Taylor Briley of Creston and freshman Avery Guy of Cedar Rapids. Freshman Kaisha Wells of Topeka, Kan., doubled for the Bears.

Jacobsen did not surrender a walk as she improved to 1-0.

Guy had a pair of triples and drove in five runs to lead the Bears past NCC. DMACC took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first and added four runs in the second to go ahead 6-0. NCC scored three runs in the bottom of the second to make it a 6-3 game and DMACC tallied twice in the top of the fourth to open up a 8-3 advantage. NCC closed out the scoring with a run in the bottom of the fourth and two in the bottom of the seventh.

Guy had a single to go with her two triples for a three-hit game and freshman Kelsey Hora of Ainsworth had a pair of singles. Ruther, Richards and Wells also singled in the game and Ruther, Richards and Wells drove in one run apiece.

Freshman Alexis Groet of Oskaloosa pitched the first two innings for DMACC, allowing three runs on two hits. She struck out three and walked three. Freshman Taylor Graven of Greene worked three innings, allowing one run on three hits with one walk and two strikeouts and came away with the win. Freshman Peyton Parker of La Porte City pitched a pair of innings. She allowed two runs on one hit, struck out one and walked one.

Guy had three hits, including a double, and drove in three runs in DMACC's win over RCC. Wells drove in a pair of runs in the win and Ruther and Hunter also collected RBIs. Hora had two singles for the Bears and Ruther, Hunter, freshman Morgan Nealey of Urbandale, Wells and freshman Katelin Schumacher of Leawood, Kan., also had base hits.

Sophomore Gabby Schnathorst of Carlisle pitched the first four innings and got the win. She allowed three runs on four hits, struck out eight and walked one. Parker pitched the final two innings, allowing five runs on three hits. She struck out two and walked one.

The DMACC softball team will play a doubleheader against Allen County Community College (ACCC) Feb. 25 at Iola, Kan.