The Kirkwood softball needed to sweep the DMACC Bears Wednesday in  order to pull into a tie for first place in the ICCAC conference  standings.

Instead, the second-ranked Bears swept the fifth-ranked Eagles and now  the league race is essentially over.

DMACC swept the twinbill, 4-1 and 7-4, at Kirkwood and now leads the  conference standings by four games with eight games to go.

DMACC is 19-1 in the league. Kirkwood has dropped into a tie for  second place with NIACC at 15-5.

The DMACC Bears are 36-5 overall. Kirkwood is 36-13.

Kirkwood trailed, 4-0, heading into the bottom of the seventh inning  of the opener. The Eagles scored one run and loaded the bases, but the  game ended with a strikeout.

Shelby Hulsebus had two hits for Kirkwood in Game 1. Erin Hocker  (18-7) allowed two earned runs and took the loss.

DMACC grabbed a 6-1 lead after four innings in the nightcap. Kirkwood  pulled closer before falling, 7-4.

Jayme Finn and London Jackson hit home runs for the Eagles in Game 2.  Sydney Albaugh had two hits and Hulsebus scored twice. Bradee Bouman  (16-6) pitched 3 1/3 innings and was tagged with the loss.

Kirkwood committed nine errors in the doubleheader.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson grad Avery Guy and Prairie grad Morgan Lewis  played key roles for DMACC in the sweep. Guy is DMACC's shortstop and  Lewis patrols center field.

GAME 1

DMACC      000 211 0 - 4 8 1
Kirkwood   000 000 1 - 1 4 3

Hocker and Butler. L - Hocker (18-7). RBI - Albaugh. SF - Albaugh. SB  - Hulsebus, Barthelman, Carter.

GAME 2

DMACC      300 301 0 - 7 9 x
Kirkwood   001 021 0 - 4 8 6

Bouman, Hocker (4) and DeWitte, Butler (4). HR - Finn, Jackson. RBI -  Finn 2, Stewart, Jackson. SB - Hulsebus 2, Smith.