• DMACC takes 12-4 and 14-0 decisions from Northeast CC
• Iowa Central tops DMACC, 9-3 in first game of a doubleheader
• Bears get a 10-2 win in the second game

The DMACC softball team, ranked seventh in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II poll, stands at 33-4 overall and 9-1 in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) after posting a 3-1 record in doubleheaders against Northeast (Neb.) Community College (NECC) and Iowa Central Community College (ICCC) April 4 and 6 at the DMACC softball diamond.

The Bears swept NECC by scores of 12-4 and 14-0 on April 4 and split with ICCC, losing the opener, 9-3, and winning the nightcap, 10-2, on April 6. The loss in the first game ended the Bears' 18-game winning streak.

Freshmen Erin Ades of Boone and Bri Tigges of Urbandale hit home runs to lead DMACC past NECC in the opener on April 4. The Bears led 1-0 after two innings and trailed 2-1 after the Hawks batted in the top of the third. DMACC rallied for three runs in the bottom of the third, two in the four and sixth in the sixth, when the game was called because of the mercy rule. NECC scored its other two runs in the top of the fifth.

Sophomore Breanna Caffery of Bettendorf led DMACC with three hits, including a pair of doubles, and Ades, Tigges, freshman Macee Reilling of Dallas Center, sophomore Josie McCuddin of Truro and freshman Baylor Gregory of Papillion, Neb., had two hits apiece. Extra-base hits included a double by Gregory, two doubles from McCuddin and one double apiece from sophomore Mary Walker of Fonda and Reilling. Ades, Tigges, McCuddin and Gregory drove in two runs apiece.

Freshman Kierra Jungers of Fonda pitched the first four and a third innings and came away with the win. She allowed four runs on six hits, struck out 11 and walked one. Freshman Brooklyn Baumgardner of Slater threw an inning and two-thirds, striking out two batters and walking one.

Ades had three hits and Reilling and freshman Mia Trewin of Waukee had two apiece in DMACC's win in the second game. Extra-base hits included a pair of doubles by Ades and home runs from Reilling and freshman Mo Purdy of Des Moines. Ades and Reilling drove in three runs apiece and Purdy came away with two RBIs.

Freshman Jacki Baas of Bondurant pitched the first three innings and earned the win. She allowed one hit, struck out seven and walked one. Sophomore Ellie Flanagan of Coggon pitched the final two innings, striking out five and walking one.

ICCC scored four runs in the first, two each in the second and fourth innings and one in the sixth to come away with its win in the opener on April 6. DMACC tallied two runs in the bottom of the first and one run in the bottom of the seventh.

Ades led the Bears at the plate with two hits, including a home run. DMACC got a triple from freshman Ella Husak of Polk City and a double from sophomore Hilary Wilson of Solon. Ades, Husak and Wilson drove in one run apiece.

Jungers pitched the first inning and a third and suffered her first loss of the season after 16 consecutive victories. She allowed six runs on five hits, struck out one and walked two. Sophomore Macy Blomgren of Waukee threw three and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs on two hits with six strikeouts and four walks and Baumgardner went two innings allowing one run on one hit with one strikeout.

DMACC avenged that loss in the second game, scoring one run in the first, two in the second, three in the third and four in the fifth when the game was called because of the mercy rule. ICCC scored its two runs in the top of the third.

Caffery led the Bears at the plate with two hits, including a triple, and she drove in two runs. Gregory also had a pair of hits and Ades collected two RBIs.

Baas pitched all five innings and improved to 12-1 with the win. She allowed two hits, struck out seven and walked two.

The DMACC softball team will face North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) in a doubleheader April 9 at Mason City. NICAA is 22-12 overall and 7-3 in the ICCAC. DMACC's 9-1 record is good for first place in the ICCAC Division II standings. ICCC, NIACC and Kirkwood Community College (KCC) are tied for second at 7-3.