Estherville, IA – Iowa Lakes baseball team hosted the Blue Knights from Dakota County Technical College on Tuesday April 11^th at Hess-Limberg field. The Lakers fought and held on to win both games 9-4 and 10-8.

Game one

Dakota County led off the game plating two runs on a walk, a double, and back to back singles off starter Devon Munter. Munter gave up two more runs in the top of the second both unearned after an error committed by the first baseman. Down 4-0, the Lakers got a rally started in the bottom of the second inning. Jordan Deadwyler started it off with single to left field, followed by back to back walks to load the bases, and a fielder's choice on a ground ball from Spenser Larson giving the Lakers their first run of the game. BJ Johnson walked next to load the bases back up with one out. Connor Mitchell stepped up and cleared the bases knocking a double over the left fielder's head tying the game up at four. The Lakers were not done yet. Bo Lovdahl reached on an error from the third baseman, plating Mitchell, Tavan Shahidi was hit by a pitch, Ashtin Moxey walked, and Deadyler hit into a fielder' choice scoring Bo Lovdahl from third and giving the Lakers a 6-4 lead. Munter returned to the mound for third and fourth inning shutting the Blue Knights down and only allowing one hit.  In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Lakers added to their lead. Bo Lovdahl hit a single to left field and advanced to second on a wild pitch, before advancing to third on a deep fly ball from Moxey. Deadwyler drove in Bo Lovdahl with a single up the middle to extend the Lakers lead to three. Munter went out for the fifth and final inning for him retiring the side in order. Iowa Lakes had a two out, two run rally in the bottom of the fifth inning when Johnson singled to left field and was driven in by Mitchell with his third double of the game. Zach Meyer came out of the pen in the sixth inning to throw a scoreless inning striking out one and walking two. Trae Ramsey came out for the seventh and final inning of the game to close the door striking out one and sealing the Laker's 9-4 win.

Game two

Dakota County started game two just like they did in game one plating two runs on three hits and a walk off starter Paul Mudrow. Iowa Lakes got one run back in the bottom of the first after Mitchell reached on an error. Shahidi was hit by a pitch and Adrian Perez walked to load the bases. Lucas Thorp was hit by a pitch to plate Mitchell from third base and cut the Dakota County lead to one. The Blue Knights continued to score runs in the second inning putting up 4 runs on Mudrow. Paul finished the day with two innings pitched and one strikeout. Trae Ramsey came on to pitched the third inning where he allowed one run on three back to back to back singles. The Lakers added one run in the bottom of the third inning when Bo Lovdahl laced a double to left center and Grant Becher later drove him in on a single to left field making the score 7-2 Dakota County. The Lakers offense exploded in the fourth inning plating five runs and tying the game up at 7. Deadwyler doubled, Johnson singled and stole second base, Mitchell doubled, Bo Lovdahl was hit by a pitch, and Shahidi deposited a three-run home run over the centerfield fence. Dakota County scored a run off an error from the third baseman in the top of the fifth. The offense continued in the fifth inning, scoring three runs on two doubles from Johnson and Mitchell. Mitch Ebben who came in to pitch in the fourth inning shut the door for Lakers giving them their second win on the day. Ebben finished the day with four innings pitched, allowed three hits, struck out three, and allowed one unearned run.

Iowa Lakes improved to 11-20 on the season and will play their next game at home in a double header against Team Ontario on Thursday April 13^th at 12:30 and 2 pm.