• Three DMACC wins come against NJCAA Division I programs
• Freshman Kierra Jungers named to the all-tournament team
• Bears' only loss came against fourth-ranked Jones College

The DMACC softball team has improved to 6-1 for the season after playing five games in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic February 21 to 23 at Columbus, Ga.

The Bears, ranked ninth in the Division II Preseason Poll from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), opened tournament play with an 9-8 loss to fourth-ranked Jones College (JC) on Feb. 21. It was the Bears' first loss of the season after opening with a pair of wins in the Southeastern Community College (SCC) Turf Tournament Feb. 14 at West Burlington.

DMACC followed the loss to JC with a 10-1 win over Illinois Central College (ICC), also on Feb. 21. ICC was one of DMACC's two victims in the SCC Turf Tournament.

The Bears played Southeastern Illinois College (SIC) and Chipola College (CC) on Feb. 22 and beat both, 9-0 and 9-5 respectively, with freshman Kierra Jungers of Fonda throwing a no-hitter against SIC. Jungers' performance earned her a spot on the all-tournament team announced at the conclusion of play on Feb. 23.

DMACC closed out the tournament with a 9-1 win over Seminole State College of Florida (SSCF) on Feb. 23. SIC, CC and SSCF are all NJCAA Division I programs.

JC used a four-run seventh inning to defeat the Bears in their tournament opener. DMACC had a 4-0 lead after batting in the top of the fourth but JC gained a tie with three runs in the bottom of the fourth and another in the bottom of the fifth. DMACC went ahead 8-4 with four runs in the sixth and JC tallied a run in the bottom of the inning before its four-run rally in the seventh.

Sophomore Breanna Caffery of Bettendorf led DMACC with three hits and two runs batted in. Sophomore Hilary Wilson of Solon and freshman Macee Reilling of Dallas Center had two hits apiece and drove in four and two runs respectively. Extra-base hits  included doubles by Caffery and Reilling and home runs from Wilson and Reilling.

Sophomore Macy Blomgren of Waukee pitched the first three and a third innings for the Bears, allowing three runs on three hits with four strikeouts. Freshman Brooklyn Baumgardner of Slater went two and two-thirds innings and gave up two runs on three hits with two walks. Sophomore Ellie Flanagan of Coggon fell to 0-1 with the loss. She allowed four runs on four hits and walked two batters. Flanagan was not credited with any innings pitched.

Reilling homered and drove in three runs and Wilson hit two doubles and drove in three runs in DMACC's win over ICC. The Bears got the win behind six runs in the first inning and four in the third. ICC scored its lone run in the top of the third and the game was called because of the mercy rule after ICC batted in the top of the fifth.

Freshman Jasey Anderson of Estherville paced DMACC's 11-hit attack with three singles and two RBIs and freshmen Baylor Gregory of Papillion, Neb., and sophomore Josie McCuddin of Truro had two singles apiece.

Jungers pitched all five innings and earned her first win of the season. She allowed one run on one hit, struck out 10 and walked two.

Freshman Erin Ades of Boone had three hits, including a home run, and drove in four runs to lead the Bears past SIC in their opener on Feb. 22. DMACC took a 1-0 lead in the second, scored four runs in the third, one each in the fourth and fifth innings and two in the sixth when the game was called because of the mercy rule.

Freshman Reece Burke of Grimes also homered for the Bears and came away with two RBIs.

Jungers struck out 10 batters and walked one in improving to 2-0 for the season.

Reilling homered and doubled and freshman Ella Husak of Polk City and sophomore Delaney Milanowski of Spring Green, Wis., each doubled to pace the Bears past CC. DMACC got the win with two runs in the first, two in the third, four in the fourth and one in the fifth. CC scored single runs in the second and fourth, two in the fifth and one in the seventh.

Husak, Wilson and Reilling drove in two runs apiece for the Bears.

Freshman Jacki Baas of Bondurant pitched the first four and two-thirds innings for DMACC, allowing four runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and one walk. She improved to 2-0 with the win. Blomgren threw two and a third innings, allowing one run on two hits with three strikeouts.

Wilson, Ades and freshman Mo Purdy of Des Moines each homered as the Bears closed out the tournament with their win over SSCF. DMACC trailed 1-0 after the first inning but took the lead with three runs in the second, two in the third and four in the fifth when the game was called because of the mercy rule.

Wilson, who also doubled, came away with four RBIs, Purdy had three and Ades, who had a double to go with her home run, drove in two runs.

Blomgren went four innings and improved to 2-0 with the win. She allowed one run on three hits, struck out four and walked two. Baas threw one inning and recorded one strikeout.

The DMACC softball team will play four games February 28 and March 1 at Booneville, Miss. The Bears will play Northeast Mississippi Community College (NECC) and Shawnee Community College (SCC) on Feb. 28 and will face Mineral Area College (MAC) in a doubleheader on March 1.