Iowa Lakes softball team lost their first two games in THE Spring Games tournament down in Clermont, Florida. The Lakers dropped game one to Madison College 10-4 and game two to South Suburban College 6-4.
Game One: MC 10, ILCC 4
The Lakers bats could not get hot in the first game, only getting five hits in seven innings. Julia Sullwold led the Lakers at the plate, going 3-4 with a double and a run scored. Desiree Lopez and Laurie Custard had the only other hits for the Lakers.
The Lakers started off great, getting the first three Madison batters out. They then started their half of the inning with back to back singles, before a one out hit by pitch from Kacie Salazar loaded the bases. The Wolfpack worked out of the inning, getting Kenlee Frank and Kaitlin Walsh out.
Both teams stayed scoreless until the top of the fourth when Madison scored four runs on three hits and two Laker errors. The Wolfpack scored another two runs in the fifth inning to make the score 6-0.
Iowa Lakes finally got something going in the bottom of the fifth with a leadoff walk from Emily Owen. Sullwold had her second single of the game and both advanced on a passed ball. With one out, Leilani San Pedro was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Salazar hit a chopper to the shortstop, who attempted to get San Pedro out at second but the ball was dropped. Both Owen and Sullwold scored on the play to cut the lead to 6-4.
The Laker scored another run in the sixth on a Laurie Custard single, a Wolfpack error, and a double by Sullwold.
With the score 5-3 entering the seventh, Madison caught fire. They scored four runs in the top of the seventh, while the Lakers could only score one.
Naomi Tolmachoff (1-2) took the loss of the Lakers. She allowed six runs, four earned, on seven hits. She had zero walks and one hit by pitch in the game.
Game Two: SSC 6, ILCC 4
The second game went very similar as the first for the Lakers. They scored four runs after the fifth inning. Bibiana Rosales (1-3) took the loss for the Lakers allowing four runs, three earned, on four hits and six walks in four innings.
South Suburban scored two runs in the top of the bottom of the second off of a homerun. They scored another run in the third and a final one in the fifth before the Lakers got anything going.
Finding themselves in a 4-0 hole, the Lakers finally struck in the top of the sixth. With two outs, Kaitlin Walsh and Laurie Custard each drew walks. Gabby Heckard was then hit by a pitch, before Montanna Popp hit a base clearing double to left center. Not to be outdone, Lexi Pallisco drove a single to right field to score Popp and tie the game.
The Bulldogs did not cave, as they scored two runs in their half of the inning to go back on top 6-4. Iowa Lakes could not get anything started in the seventh inning, so took the 6-4 loss.
Sullwold again led the Lakers at the plate, going 2-4. Montanna Popp was 1-3 with three runs batted in and one run scored.
The Lakers are back in action tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM EST against Silver Lake College of Holy Family and at 11:30 AM EST against Cuyahoga Community College.
Photography by Cecil Ramsey