• Freshman Delaney Milanowski and sophomore Ceara Swanson drive in two runs apiece as DMACC takes the opener, 7-1
• Milanowski has two RBIs in 3-2 victory in the second game
• Sophomore Courtney Donahue and freshman Macy Blomgren get the wins

The DMACC softball team will advance to the 2024 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Softball World Series after sweeping a doubleheader from Dawson Community College (DCC) to win the NJCAA Northwest Plains District-B championship May 10 at Glendive, Mont.

Freshman Delaney Milanowski of Spring Green, Wis., drove in two runs in each game and sophomore Courtney Donahue of Marshfield, Wis., and freshman Macy Blomgren of Waukee got the wins as DMACC improved to 46-9 for the season with its ninth and tenth consecutive victories. The Bears took the opener by a 7-1 score and won the nightcap, 3-2.

DMACC, ranked ninth in the NJCAA Division II poll, took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second of the opener when freshman Josie McCuddin of Truro walked and gave way to pinch runner freshman Mia Walker of Fonda, who stole second and scored on a base hit by sophomore Ceara Swanson of Lincoln, Neb.

The Bears extended their lead to 4-0 with three runs in the fourth. Freshman Hilary Wilson of Solon started the rally with a leadoff single and moved to second on an infield hit by sophomore Campbell Kelley of Rock Island, Ill. Freshman Keaton Frere of Andalusia, Ill., pinch ran for Wilson and reached third when Milanowski drew a base on balls. Frere scored on an infield grounder by Swanson and Kelley, who moved to third on the grounder, came home on an infield single by freshman Breanna Caffery of Bettendorf. Milanowski scored the third run home when sophomore Elle Nelsen of Grimes was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

DCC made it a 4-1 game with a run in the bottom of the fourth but DMACC pushed its advantage to 5-1 with a run in the fifth and then closed out the win with two runs in the seventh. Milanowski had an RBI double in the fifth and drove in a run with a single in the seventh. The Bears got their final run on a DCC error.

Donahue improved to 25-3 with the win. She allowed one run on five hits, walked one and struck out 16.

DMACC was the home team in the second game and scored all three of its runs in the bottom of the first. Nelsen opened the inning with a double and sophomore Kelsey Palmer of Cedar Rapids gave the Bears another base runner when she walked. Wilson's grounder forced Palmer at second and Milanowski followed with a double that scored Nelsen and Walker, who was running for Wilson. McCuddin's triple got Milanowski home with the third run of the inning.

DCC scored both of its runs in the sixth.

Blomgren pitched the first five and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs on five hits with 10 strikeouts. Sophomore Kinsley Robertson of Tiffin went a third of an inning and retired the only batter she faced. Donahue pitched one inning, striking out all three batters she faced.

The DMACC softball team will be making its tenth consecutive appearance in the NJCCC Division II Softball World Series and its 11 appearance in the past 12 seasons. The Bears garnered third place finishes in 2023, 2019, 2018 and 2014 and finished fourth in 2015. Pairings for the 2024 Division II Softball World Series will be announced May 14.