The  DMACC softball team swept a doubleheader from Ellsworth Community College (ECC) April 27 at Iowa Falls and clinched its fifth consecutive Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) regular season championship.

The Bears, ranked No. 1 in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II poll, won by scores of 11-1 and 13-1 to improve to 44-3 overall and 20-2 in the ICCAC. DMACC also stretched its winning streak to 23 consecutive games.

The Bears have won the last four ICCAC regular season championships. They shared the title in 2017 and won outright championships in 2018, 2019 and 2021 in addition to this season. There was no conference champion in 2020 because of the Covid-19 virus.

Freshman Kendal Clark of Humboldt had a pair of base hits, including a triple, and drove in three runs to lead the Bears to their win in the opener. DMACC took a 6-0 lead with six runs in the top of the second and led 7-1 after three innings. The Bears closed out the win with four runs in the top of the fifth and the game was called because of the mercy rule after ECC batted in the bottom of the fifth.

Sophomore Delaney Kelley of Rock Island, Ill., and freshman Sydney Kennedy of Peosta had two hits apiece in the win and Kelley came away with two RBIs.

Freshman Emma Dighton of Boone pitched the first four innings and improved to 12-1 with the win. She allowed one hit and struck out three batters. Kennedy pitched one inning and struck out all three batters she faced.

Dighton, sophomore Abby Husak of Polk City and freshman Madison Kearns of Glenpool, Okla., had two hits apiece and Dighton, Kelley, Kearns, sophomore Sami Miller of Mason City and freshman Zoey Hightshoe of Boone drove in two runs apiece for DMACC in the second game.

DMACC broke a 1-1 tie with two runs in the top of the second and put the game away with eight runs in the third and two in the fifth. This game was also called because of the mercy rule after ECC batted in the bottom of the fifth.

Flanagan pitched three innings and remained unbeaten at 12-0. She allowed one run on one hit, struck out two and walked one. Sophomore Lexi Lander of Onawa went two innings, giving up one hit and striking out three batters.

DMACC and ECC will play another doubleheader May 1 at Iowa Falls. ECC is 13-27 overall and 5-17 in the ICCAC.