The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team picked up one win on their first of seven days playing in Florida. The Lakers started the day by dropping game one 15-11 to Mott Community College, before rallying to beat West Virginia Wesleyan College JV 13-9. The Lakers are now 5-5 on the season.
GAME 1: 15 (MCC), 11 (ILCC)
The Lakers got two quick outs in the first inning before Mott was able to get their first runner on, reaching on a Laker error. They quickly followed with a single and double to put two runs on the scoreboard. Kassidy Elkins got the final batter to ground out to Taylor Larson at first to end the inning. The Lakers went down in order in their half of the inning.
The Bears were able to extend their lead to 3-0 in the top of the second. They scored one run on three hits and one walk. They were able to break open the game in the top of the third, putting five runs on the scoreboard. The Bears were able to do this on four singles and a homerun.
Iowa Lakes showed life offensively in the bottom of the third. Abby Burgess picked up a one-out single and then stole second, before Kaitlyn DuChateau homered to right field. Marrissa Miller quickly followed with a single and two stolen bases to put herself in scoring position. Alexis Cullinane capitalized with a single up the middle to make the score 8-3.
The bottom of the fourth saw the Lakers pull within one run. Bailey Smith, Larson, and Myla Murphy all singled, scoring one run for the Lakers. With Larson at third and Murphy at second with two outs, Miller walked before Macy Pickett cleared the bases with a double to right center.
With the score now 8-7, Mott got their first runner of the inning on a Laker error. A groundout to Cullinane advanced the runner to second before a passed ball allowed her to get to third base. A single up the middle plated the first run of the inning. With two outs, Mott was able to score two more runs on another Laker error and single. The Lakers were able to again show some life in their half of the inning when Smith drew a one-out hit by pitch. With two outs, Murphy drew a walk, advancing Smith to second. Burgess then singled to load the bases and bring DuChateau to the plate. She delivered a triple to right, clearing the bases and making the score 11-10 in favor of the Bears.
Unfortunately, the Lakers' defense got the best of them in the sixth, when they allowed four runs in the top of the sixth. Mott did this on one triple, two walks, and two Laker errors.
The Lakers made a final push in the bottom of the seventh. Smith again reached on a hit-by pitch. Brooklyn Bode entered the game to run for Smith and put herself in scoring position with a stolen base. Burgess scored Bode on a double to make the final score 15-11.
The Lakers were led at the plate by Abby Burgess. She was 3-4 with two runs scored and one run batted in. Kaitlyn DuChateau added two hits, and five runs batted in, while Alexis Cullinane also had two hits. Kassidy Elkins suffered the loss, allowing six runs, five earned, on nine hits, one walk, and one strikeout in 2.1 innings. Macy Pickett threw the final 4.2 innings. She allowed eight runs, three earned, five hits, two walks, and five strikeouts.
GAME 2: 13 (ILCC), 9 (WVWJV)
The Lakers were able to strike first in game two, scoring one run in the top of the second. Smith singled and then stole second on a ball in the dirt. Korilynn Christians then drove her home on a double to right. The Bobcats were able to tie the game back up in the bottom of the second. A Laker error allowed the first batter to reach second. She then advanced to third on a passed ball, before scoring on a sacrifice bunt.
The score remained 1-1 until the Lakers plated two in the top of the fourth. Smith again got things started, this time with a leadoff walk. Larson followed with a single before Smith was forced out at third on a fielder's choice off the bat of Christians. Larson and Christians were able to advance 60 feet on a passed ball, which was followed by a Murphy groundout to score Larson. Burgess was not done yet. She singled up the middle to score Christians and give the Lakers a 3-1 lead. West Virginia Wesleyan was able to take the lead in the fourth when the Laker defense had some troubles. The Bobcats scored four runs on two hits and four Laker errors.
Pickett did not let the defensive woes hinder her from getting the offense started again. She led off the fifth with a single, which was followed by a Cullinane single, and a Smith three-run home run. The Lakers now had a 6-5 lead going into the bottom of the fifth. The Bobcats tied the game up on a solo home run.
With two outs in the top of the sixth, Pickett tripled to give the Lakers some life again. Cullinane then hit a fly ball that was misplayed by the Bobcats, allowing Pickett to score and Cullinane to advance to third. Smith and Larson kept the momentum going with back-to-back doubles to give the Lakers a 9-6 lead. Larson then used some aggressive baserunning to steal third and advance home on a throwing error by the catcher. The Bobcats scored two runs in their half of the inning on two walks and a single.
The Lakers were able to get some insurance runs in the top of the seventh when Burgess hit a one-out double and scored on a single from DuChateau. Miller followed with a single of her own before both runners advanced on a passed ball. Pickett lined out to second to record the second out of the inning. On the lineout, West Virginia Wesleyan made a throwing error to allow DuChateau to score from third. Miller quickly scampered home on the next pitch on a passed ball to give the Lakers a 13-8 lead. The Bobcats scored the final run of the game on a walk and error.
Bailey Smith led the Lakers at the plate, going 3-3 with three runs scored and four runs batted in. Taylor Larson was 3-4, while DuChateau, Pickett, and Burgess each added two hits of their own. In the circle, Larson picked up her third win of the season. She threw 5.2 innings, allowing eight runs, three earned, on three hits, two walks, and five strikeouts. Kassidy Elkins threw 1.1 innings, allowing one run, zero earned, on one hit, one walk, and one strikeout.
The Lakers will be back in action tomorrow, March 7th, at 9:00 AM (EST) against Mott Community College. They will then take on Lincoln Land Community College at 11:15 AM (EST).