• Sophomore Josie McCuddin drives in four runs in 13-3 win in the opener
• Freshman Macee Reilling has four RBIs in 11-0 win in the second game
• Freshman Kierra Jungers and sophomore Macy Blomgren get the wins

The DMACC softball team ran its record to 18-3 with a pair of wins over Central (Neb.) Community College (CCC) March 17 at Columbus, Neb.

Sophomore Josie McCuddin of Truro homered and drove in four runs as the Bears took the first game, 13-3, and freshman Macee Reilling of Dallas Center homered and drove in three runs in an 11-0 win in the second game. Freshman Kierra Jungers of Fonda and sophomore Macy Blomgren of Waukee got the wins and both games were called because of the mercy rule after five innings.

DMACC, ranked sixth in this week's Division II poll from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), scored four runs in the first inning, two in the second, three in the third and four in the fourth in winning the opener. Sophomore Mia Walker of Fonda paced the Bears at the plate with four hits and sophomores Breanna Caffery of Bettendorf and Josie McCuddin of Truro and freshmen Ella Husak of Polk City, Reilling, Bri Tigges of Urbandale and Jasey Anderson of Estherville had two this apiece.

Extra-base hits included home runs from Reilling and freshman Erin Ades of Boone, a triple from Caffery, a pair of doubles by Reilling and one double each from Walker, sophomore Hilary Wilson of Solon, McCuddin and Anderson. McCuddin led the Bears in runs batted in with four and Wilson, Reilling and Ades drove in two runs apiece.

Jungers went the first three innings and improved to 9-0 with the win. She allowed one hit, struck out eight and walked one. Sophomore Ellie Flanagan of Coggon pitched one inning and allowed two runs with two strikeouts and two walks and freshman Brooklyn Baumgardner of Slater pitched one inning, allowing one run on one hit with one strikeout and one walk.

Jungers continues to lead the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) in earned run average (0.33) and strikeouts (89) and she is second in wins.

DMACC took the second game behind a four-run first inning, a run in the third and six runs in the fourth.

Ades led the Bears in hits with three, including a pair of doubles, and Tigges and freshmen Mo Purdy of Des Moines and Mia Trewin of Waukee had two hits apiece.

Extra-base hits included doubles from Purdy and Anderson and a home run by Reilling, who led the Bears in RBIs with three. Tigges and Purdy drove in two runs apiece.

Blomgren pitched the first three innings and held the Raiders hitless. She struck out five, walked two and improved to 2-0 with the win. Freshman Jacki Baas of Bondurant pitched two innings, allowing one hit with three strikeouts and two walks.

The DMACC softball team will play its first games at the DMACC softball diamond March 21 when the Bears face Marshalltown Community College (MCC). The Tigers, an NJCAA Division I program, will be playing their first games of the 2024-25 spring season.