Cedar Rapids, IA – Iowa Lakes battles in two tough losses with Kirkwood Community College on Sunday. Iowa Lakes lost in game one 8-5 and lost game two 8-7 on a walk-off home run.

Game one

Kirkwood jumped to 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first scoring on a double, walk, and a three-run home run to left. Th Lakers answered back quickly starting with an Ashtin Moxey single followed by a Joe Fitka double, a Spenser Larson 2 RBI triple off the right center wall, and a RBI double from BJ Johnson. With the game tied at three started Drew Grubb allowed three more runs in the bottom of the second inning off a single, walk, double, and an error on the third baseman. The Eagles added two more runs in the third inning on four walks and a sacrifice. Grubb finished the day throwing two and two thirds innings allowing four hits, six walks, two strikeouts, and two hit by pitches. Zach Meyer came on in relief and closed out the inning scoreless. The Lakers added two more runs in the sixth inning. Starting with Moxey reaching on an error by the left fielder, Fitka hitting a RBI double to left center, and a pinch-hit RBI single from Jordan Deadwyler. Zach Meyer finished the game throwing three and one third innings of scoreless baseball and three strikeouts. The offense couldn't get anything going in the seventh and lost 8-5.

Game two

Iowa Lakes took the lead early, BJ Johnson scored off an error from the shortstop in the first inning. Shahidi hit his fifth home run on the season giving the Lakers a 2-0 lead in the top of the third. After a couple of singles from Fitka and Nick Lovdahl and two walks from Spenser Larson and Connor Mitchell allowed Fitka to score and give the Lakers a 3-0 lead. The Eagles scored their first run of the game after a double and an error on the shortstop. Shahidi led off the fifth inning with a double to left center and later scored on another error by the shortstop. The Lakers were up 4-1 until the sixth inning. Kirkwood plated two runs off a walk, a double, and a two RBI single, cutting the Lakers lead to one. Kirkwood tied the game I the seventh inning after a single, a sacrifice bunt, and a huge double. Martin Eckard finished the day throwing six plus innings on the mound for the Lakers. Eckard had five strikeouts on the day allowing four runs. Beau Britton pitched threw one and to thirds innings and allowed three earned runs in the 8^th inning.  Mitch Ebben came in the 8^th and struck out the last batter of the inning. Iowa Lakes wasn't out just yet. The Lakers added three runs in the top of the ninth to tie the game up at seven. It started with back to back pinch hit walks from Alex Bline and Jordan Deadwyler. Shahidi then drove them both in on a double to right center. With two outs after the double, Fitka recorded his third hit in the game with a double down the third base line to score Shahidi and tie up the game. Ebben stayed in the game for the Lakers as the game went to the bottom of the ninth. He struck the first batter out and the next hitter hit a walk-off home run to left field.

Iowa Lakes is now 14-29 (1-15 ICCAC) on the season. Iowa Lakes next series will be at home in Estherville against the Panthers from Ellsworth Community College.