The Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) softball team pushed its current winning streak to eight games after sweeping a doubleheader from Iowa Lakes Community College (ILCC) April 25 at Estherville.

The Bears, ranked second in the most recent Division II poll from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), won by scores of 16-1 and 13-3. Both games were called after five innings because of the mercy rule.

The wins give DMACC a 38-5 record and a 21-1 record in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC). The Bears have a four-game lead over second-place Kirkwood Community College (KCC) and North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC).

Sophomore Ellie Dixon of Iowa City belted two home runs and drove in five runs for DMACC in the opener. Sophomore Kaisha Wells of Topeka, Kan., and freshman Josie Swafford of Wellston, Okla., also homered and drove in three runs apiece.

DMACC led 3-1 after two innings and pulled away behind a nine-run rally in the third and then closed out the win with three runs in the fourth and two in the fifth.

Sophomore Mia Ruther of Burlington paced the Bears' 21-hit attack with four singles. Wells had three hits, including a double to go with her home run, and Swafford, Dixon and freshman Ally Pickering of Winterset had two hits apiece. Pickering and sophomore Avery Guy of Cedar Rapids drove in two runs apiece.

Swafford pitched all five innings and got the win. She allowed one run on two hits, struck out seven and walked one.

Freshmen Elly Schuemann of Marion and Maddie Karr of Center Point each homered in DMACC's win in the second game. Ruther had four hits, including a triple, Karr and freshman Morgan Lewis of Cedar Rapids had three hits apiece and Pickering and Schuemann each had two hits. Karr drove in three runs and Ruther, Pickering and Schuemann had two RBIs apiece.

DMACC grabbed a quick 5-0 lead with two runs in the first and three in the second. The Bears made it 11-0 with six runs in the fourth and closed out the game with two runs in the fifth. ILCC scored all three of its runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Freshman Dana Dunbar of Chadron, Neb., pitched the first four innings and earned the win. She allowed three runs on four hits, struck out one and walked one. Sophomore Peyton Parker of La Porte City worked one inning, allowing one hit.

The DMACC softball team will face NIACC in a doubleheader April 28 at Mason City. The Trojans are 15-5 in the ICCAC and 23-13 overall. DMACC took a doubleheader from NIACC April 19 at the DMACC softball diamond, winning by scores of 9-1 and 9-8.