Photo by Iowa Central Athletics: Iowa Central's Cadence Touney, a Fort Dodge Senior High graduate, connects for Iowa Central at the Region 11-B Tournament in Boone.

BOONE — The Iowa Central softball team ran into a buzzsaw in 10th-ranked DMACC during the Region 11-B tournament over the weekend.

The Tritons (40-18 overall) lost 4-1 to the Bears (52-10) on Sunday in the championship round.

Iowa Central still has a shot at making the national tournament, as it will be in the running for an at-large bid. The field will be announced this week.

The loss to the Bears was the second of the weekend. After beating Hawkeye on Friday night, the Tritons lost to the Bears 4-1. They bounced back with a 14-6 win over Hawkeye to set up the final round with DMACC.

“I have nothing but respect for our sophomore group,” said ICCC head coach Bo Tjebben. “Last year we won 49 games, and this season, we have 40.

“They are great leaders and they got a taste of the World Series last year. We’re hoping to get another shot now.”

In the championship matchup against the Bears, Iowa Central couldn’t muster much offense. Fort Dodge Senior High graduate Cadence Touney had the lone hit with an RBI. Kyra Kain also drove in a run.

Former Newell-Fonda all-stater and DMACC standout hurler Kierra Jungers came in for four innings, allowing no hits and fanning six.

“We had a shot,” Tjebben said. “We had the bases loaded and there was a bang-bang play at the plate that was called an out.

“We had a good hook slide and it was close. That could have made the game closer, but we just didn’t get the call.”

In the opener on Saturday versus Hawkeye, the Tritons managed four hits. Touney who had a solo home run and a single. Jersey Hawf had a double.

St. Edmond graduate Lauren Gibb also recorded a hit.

Jungers went the distance to earn the win for DMACC, striking out 12 batters, allowing four hits and zero walks. She is a Creighton commit.

In the win against Hawkeye to advance, the Tritons banged out 14 hits — including seven for extra bases.

It was a crazy first three innings, as Hawkeye scored two in the first and the Tritons followed with 6, then Hawkeye plated four in the second to tie the contest. Iowa Central then broke it open with four in the third and two in the fourth.

Touney had another outstanding effort, going 3-for-4 with three RBI and two home runs.

Triton Avery McKinney was a perfect 4-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Natalie Rasmussen contributed three hits and two driven in.

Jozie Kerr had two hits and an RBI. Hawf chipped in two RBI.

Josie Juhl came in for relief, pitching four innings, allowing two hits and fanning eight.

“You always wonder how the girls will respond after losing to a Top-10 team,” Tjebben said. “We battled (against Hawkeye).

“We got down early, but we responded and our energy is out of this world.”