MASON CITY - The fourth-ranked Kirkwood softball team belted seven home runs Thursday and swept a conference doubleheader from NIACC, 10-5 and 11-0 in five innings.

Maddie Hansen socked her 13th homer of the season and drove in three runs in the first game. Taylor Nearad was 2-for-4 with two doubles and three runs scored. Morgan Frost socked her seventh homer and drove in two runs. Nicky Simpson (22-2) was the winning pitcher.

Allie Mengler belted two home runs and drove in five runs in the second game. Payton Mercer was 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs. Nearad went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. It was Nearad's 22nd homer, which leads the nation.

Lexi Ferrari hit her first home run for the Eagles. Hansen went 2-for-3 and scored twice. Teagan Toft had two stolen bases. Lexi Kinnaird (20-2) was the winning pitcher.

Kirkwood raised its records to 45-4 overall and 23-1 in the ICCAC conference. The Eagles have won 32 of their last 33 games.

The Eagles have hit 82 home runs in 49 games. Kirkwood ranks second in the nation in home runs.

NIACC fell to 18-26 overall and 9-15 in the league.