The Iowa Lakes Softball team continued their winning streak with two wins over Northeast Community College. The scores were 8-0 in five innings and 7-6. The Lakers are now 16-10 overall and 16-8 in the conference.
Game One: ILCC 8, NCC 0 (5 innings)
The Lakers got on the board early, scoring four runs in the first inning. Kailey Maksim drew a one out walk and advanced to second on a single from Eliya Johnson. Kaitlin Roundy followed with a single of her own to score Maksim, both runners advanced on a Kamryn Buntrock walk to load up the bases. With two outs, Mackenna Otte stepped up and cleared the bases with a double to right center.
With the Lakers now up 4-0, Chase and her defense made quick work of Northeast in the second. They got the first batter to pop out to Otte, before Chase retired the final two on her own. Iowa Lakes kept the offense going, scoring two more runs in the second on a Chase single and Maksim homerun.
The final two Laker runs came in the bottom of the fourth. With one out and Maksim on second, Johnson doubled on a hard ground ball to right field. Back-to-back walks moved Johnson to third base and McCabe followed with a sacrifice fly to score her.
Kailey Maksim led the Lakers at the plate, going 2-2 with two runs batted in, three runs scored, and a two-run homerun. Kaitlin Roundy, Lexi Chase, and Eliya Johnson each had a multi-hit game, while Mackenna Otte provided three RBI's. Chase took the game one shutout win. She allowed four hits while striking out nine Hawk batters.
Game Two: ILCC 7, NCC 6
The Lakers again got on the board first on a Maksim solo homerun in the bottom of the first inning. Iowa Lakes scored another run in the next inning. Kamryn Buntrock and Allison McCabe's doubles were followed by an Emma Kral ground out that scored Buntrock and gave the Lakers a 2-0 lead.
Northeast Community College put up one run in the third on a walk, sacrifice fly, passed ball, and sacrifice fly.
The score remained 2-1 until the Lakers broke things open in the fourth. Buntrock reached on a Northeast error that allowed her to advance to third to begin the inning. Otte then drove the ball to the right center fence to score Buntrock. Otte quickly scampered across the plate herself on a Kral single. With the Lakers now up 4-1 and Kiley Hill running at first, Amanda Franke hit a ball in the gap that allowed Hill to score. A Chase double scored Franke and Chase scored the final Laker run on a Johnson single.
Iowa Lakes saw their lead dwindle in the fifth, when the Hawks put up four runs. They did this on three hits, one Laker error, and one walk. Northeast scored their final run in the sixth on three singles.
Eliya Johnson picked up with game two win for the Lakers. She allowed five runs, two earned, in five innings. She did this on five hits and five walks, while striking out three Hawk batters. Lexi Chase got the save, pitching two innings. She allowed one earned run on three hits and one walk, while sitting down five Northeast batters. Kailey Maksim was again 2-2 with a homerun and two walks. Mackenna Otte was 2-3, while Eliya Johnson also added two hits for the Lakers.
Iowa Lakes will be at home again on Sunday, April 18th, for the final two games of the series. They will play at 12:00 and 2:00 PM against Northeast Community College.
Photo ID: Photo of Mackenna Otte throwing across the field attached.
MEDIA: For more information, please contact Head Softball Coach, Katie King at (712) 362-8367 or the Iowa Lakes sports information office at (712) 362-7928.