BOONE - The Kirkwood softball team swept a double-header from DMACC Saturday to grab a two-game lead in the conference race.

The sixth-ranked Eagles topped the fifth-ranked Bears, 11-9 in nine innings and 12-6.

Kirkwood and DMACC began the day in a first-place tie for the ICCAC conference lead, but the sweep lifted the Eagles to 13-1 at the halfway point of the league race and dropped the Bears to 11-3.

Payton Mercer, Teagan Toft, Taylor Nearad and Maddie Hansen belted home runs for Kirkwood in the first game. Nicky Simpson got the victory.

Mercer and Toft homered again in the second game. Lexi Kinnaird got the win.

Kirkwood raised its record to 35-4. DMACC fell to 30-5.