The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team took two losses in their mid-week contest against North Iowa Area Community College. NIACC swept the day with final scores of 15-3 & 12-0. This brings the Lakers to 22-13 overall for the season and 2-4 in conference.
GAME 1: 3 (ILCC), 15 (NIACC), 6 innings
Macy Pickett came out hard in the circle for the Lakers in the top of the first. She allowed one Trojan to reach base but shut down the side by forcing three ground outs. Kaitlyn DuChateau started off the offense with a leadoff solo home run to center field to give the Lakers an early lead. Marrissa Miller followed with a single of her own, but that would be the last Laker on in the first.
The Trojans tied the game in the top of the second by forcing two Laker errors. They quickly took the lead with two two-run home runs. Pickett shut down the side with a strikeout and another ground out. The bottom of the second was uneventful for the Lakers, seeing only Morgan Kolodzienski reaching on a walk. NIACC scored two more on another two-run homerun in the third and a solo home run in the fourth gave them the lead of 9-1.
Taylor Larson started the bottom of the fourth with an infield single. Karlee Akers stepped up to the plate and ripped a two-run shot down left field line. Kassidy Elkins threw a scoreless top of the fifth, striking out one and forcing two ground outs.
Miller started up the bottom of the fifth with a two-out bunt for a hit to reach first while Korilynn Christians followed with a single of her own. Miller and Christians stole the next 60 feet, putting two runners in scoring position. The third out came too quickly for the Lakers, stranding the two on base. Trojans kept their bats hot in the top of the sixth, extending their lead to 15-3 on eight hits. Despite Akers reaching on a one-out error from the Trojans, the Lakers side would be put down.
Miller led the Lakers' offense in game one, going 2-3. DuChateau, Christians, Larson and Akers had one hit each to tally the remaining four hits. Pickett took the loss for the Lakers, throwing 2.2 innings, allowing eight hits, eight total runs, and two earned runs, while striking out two. Elkins threw 3.1 innings in the contest, allowing nine hits, seven hits, and two walks, while striking out one.
GAME 2: 0 (ILCC), 12 (NIACC), 5 innings
NIACC's bats worked hard in the top of the first, scoring four runs on eight hits. Christians gunned down a runner advancing home from left field to get the first out for the Lakers. Larson forced the last two outs of the inning with ground outs. The Lakers came out fighting in their half, starting with a leadoff walk from DuChateau. Miller ripped a double into center and a walk from Christians loaded the bases with no outs. The Lakers' threat would be shut down by Trojan defense and pitching.
The Trojans scored three in their half of the second on two homeruns and a single. Abby Burgess would be the only Lakers on in the bottom of the second, reaching on a walk.
In the circle for the Lakers, Morgan Fine allowed one run in the top of the third while shutting down three of four hitters. On offense, Larson ripped a two-out hard ground ball single to be the only baserunner for the Lakers.
The bottom of the fourth and fifth were quiet for the Lakers, with no runners reaching base due to solid pitching for the Trojans.
The Lakers' offense was led by Larson, who went 1-2, and Miller, who went 1-3. They took three walks from the Trojans. Taylor Larson suffered the loss for the Lakers, pitching 3.0 innings, allowing 11 hits and four runs while striking out one. This brings her to a record of 7-3 on the season and 1-1 in conference play. Fine pitched 2.0 innings, allowing five hits, eight runs, and two walks.
The Lakers look for redemption this weekend, facing Kirkwood on Saturday at 1 & 3pm. They follow by taking on Hawkeye at home on Sunday at 12 & 2pm.