Iowa Lakes Community College softball strung together 27 hits in two games to earn a sweep over Northeast Community College. The Lakers put up 13 hits in their game one 6-5 win and 14 in their 8-3 game two win.
The Lakers got the early lead when Taylor Allen hit a one out single to center. She then stole second base, before advancing to third on a Kacie Salazar ground ball. A Northeast error allowed Allen to score on a Yasmine Nix ground ball.
Northeast quickly responded, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first on a double and homerun.
The score remained 2-1 until the top of the third. Allen doubled to right before advancing to third on a Hawks error. With runners on the corners, Nix doubled to right center to score both Allen and Salazar and give the Lakers the 3-2 lead.
The Lakers put up two more runs in the top of the fourth when Lexus Gorospe doubled, and Allen hit her 11th homerun over the season to put the Lakers up 5-2.
Northeast tied the game up in the bottom of the fifth. They scored their three runs on four singles and one Iowa Lakes error. Neither team scored in the sixth inning.
Alexi Pallisco stepped up big in the top of the seventh. She drove the first pitch she saw down the right field line, allowing her to advance to third. Prisiclla Lozoya followed with a sacrifice fly to center to put the Lakers up 6-5. Isabelle Karr got the Hawks to go down in order to complete the win.
Taylor Allen led the Lakers at the plate in game one. She was 4-4 with three runs scored, two runs batted in, a homerun, and a stolen base. Yasmine Nix was 2-4 with three runs batted in. Madeline Cantu also had two hits for the Lakers. Isabelle Karr picked up the win for the Lakers. She pitched 2.2 innings, allowing zero earned runs and just one hit. Yasmine Nix pitched 4.1 innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on seven hits and striking out 4.
The Lakers again took the early 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Gabby Heckard singled on a bunt and advanced to second on a Northeast throwing error. Madeline Cantu singled up the middle to put runners on the corners. Lozoya then hit a two out single to score Heckard and put the Lakers up.
The Hawks put up one run in their half of the inning on one hit and one Laker error.
Iowa Lakes quickly fought back, scoring one run in the top of the third. Allen doubled on a line drive to left center, before coming around to score on another Nix double. The Lakers put up another run in the top of the fourth, when Cantu drew a leadoff walk. Taylor Beane then laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Cantu to second base. Lozoya then singled on a bunt and a throwing error by the Hawks allowed Cantu to score.
Northeast brought the game within one in the bottom half of the fourth. They did this on one double and a Laker error.
The top of the fifth saw Allen lead off with a double down the left field line. Nix hit a pop fly behind second base that was mishandled by the Hawks to put runners on first and second with one out. A shot off the bat of Heckard allowed Allen to score and Nix to advance to third. Cantu was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, before Nix scored on a passed ball. Beane then singled up the middle to score Heckard and put the Lakers up 6-2. Their final run of the inning came when Cantu crossed the plate on a passed ball.
A two out walk and two Laker errors allowed the Hawks to score one run in the bottom of the fifth.
Kacie Salazar led off the top of the sixth with a hard-hit ball down the third base line. She advanced to second on a Nix single before reaching third on a Cantu walk. Beane singled on a ball to left, which allowed Salazar to cross the plate for the final run of the game.
Priscilla Lozoya led the offensive attack for the Lakers in game two. She was 3-3 with two runs batted in, one run scored, and two stolen bases. Madisyn Arechederra was 2-3 at the plate with two stolen bases. Lexus Gorospe went the distance for the Lakers in the circle. She allowed three runs, zero earned, on four hits, while striking out six.
The Lakers will be back in action at home on Saturday, April 13th, at 1:00 and 3:00 PM, when they take on Iowa Central Community College.
Photography By: Cecil Ramsey