DMACC softball team sweeps doubleheaders from NIACC, ICCC

The Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) softball team improved to 34-5 for the season with doubleheader sweeps of North Iowa Area Community College (NICAA) and Iowa Central Community College (ICCC) on April 19 and 20.

The Bears, ranked fourth in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II poll, defeated NIACC by scores of 9-1 and 9-8 April 19 at the DMACC softball diamond and topped ICCC 7-5 and 7-4 April 20 at Fort Dodge.

The wins give DMACC a 17-1 record in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) and keep the Bears atop the conference standings. The Bears have a two-game lead over Kirkwood Community College (KCC).

Sophomore Mia Ruther of Burlington scored four runs, had three hits and drove in one run in DMACC's 9-1 win over NIACC. Freshman Josie Swafford of Wellston, Okla., had just one hit but drove in three runs and sophomores Avery Guy of Cedar Rapids and Kaisha Wells of Topeka, Kan., drove in two runs apiece. Guy had a pair of doubles and Wells belted a home run in the win.

DMACC took a 1-0 lead in the first, added three runs in each of the third and fourth innings and scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to end the game via the mercy rule.

Swafford went the distance for the win. She allowed one run on three hits, struck out nine and walked one.

Freshman Maddie Karr of Center Point hit two home runs and drove in three runs for DMACC in the second game.

The Bears had their hands full as NIACC scored three runs in the first inning and led 4-1 after batting in the top of the third. DMACC tallied four runs in the bottom of the inning for 5-4 lead, but NIACC responded with three runs in the top of the fourth for a 7-5 lead. DMACC made it 7-6 with a run in the bottom of the fifth and scored three times in the bottom of the sixth for a 9-7 lead. NIACC closed to within 9-8 with a run in the top of the seventh.

Ruther, Guy and Wells had two hits apiece in the win and Swafford drove in two runs.

Sophomore Peyton Parker of La Porte City pitched the first two and a third innings, allowing four run on five hits. She walked two batters. Freshman Dana Dunbar of Chadron, Neb., went four and a third innings and came away with the win. She allowed four runs on seven hits and walked one batter. Swafford pitched a third of an inning and allowed one hit.

Wells had two hits, including a home run, and drove in six runs to lift DMACC in its opener against ICCC.

DMACC led 1-0 after the first inning and put five runs on the board in the top of the fifth for a 6-0 lead. The Bears made it 7-0 with a run in the top of the sixth. ICCC scored once in the bottom of the sixth and added four runs in the bottom of the seventh.

Guy paced DMACC's 15-hit attack with three singles and Ruther joined Wells with two hits.

Swafford pitched all seven innings for the win. She allowed five runs on seven hits and struck out 11 batters.

Ruther, Guy and freshman Ally Pickering of Winterset hit home runs as DMACC overcame a 4-1 deficit with six runs in the top of the seventh to win the second game. Wells had three hits in the win and Ruther and Guy had two apiece. Karr and Pickering each drove in two runs.

Freshman Ally Anderson of Atlantic pitched the first three innings, allowing four runs on five hits with two strikeouts. Dunbar went three and a third innings and got the win, allowing four hits, striking out two and walking one. Swafford was in the circle for two-thirds of an inning and struck out one batter.

The DMACC softball team will face KCC in a doubleheader April 24 at Cedar Rapids. The Eagles, ranked fifth in NJCAA Division II, are 36-11 overall and 15-3 in the ICCAC. The two teams split a doubleheader April 13 at Boone.