The Iowa Lakes Softball team completed the four-game sweep of Northeast Community College on Sunday. The Lakers won the first game 8-0 in six innings and the second game 11-1 in five innings. Iowa Lakes has advanced to 18-10 overall and 18-8 in the conference.
Game One: ILCC 8, NCC 0 (6 innings)
The Lakers got on the board first, taking advantage of a Northeast error. Alexis Chase reached on an error and advanced to second on a Kailey Maksim ground out. Chase crossed home plate when Johnson singled on a line drive to right field.
Iowa Lakes again took advantage of a free base when Amanda Franke drew a leadoff walk and Chase homered to put the Lakers up 3-0. Johnson hit a one out single through the 5/6 hole and advanced to second on a Kaitlin Roundy groundout. Johnson stole third and then scored on a Kamryn Buntrock single.
Chase led off the fifth with a double. Maksim then drove a ball over the left field fence to put the Lakers up 6-0. The Lakers ended the game early by putting two runs in the sixth inning. Allie McCabe and Mackenna Otte took advantage of Northeast miscues and put one run up on the board. Three consecutive walks to Chase, Maksim, and Johnson allowed Otte to cross the plate to complete the six-inning win.
Lexi Chase and Eliya Johnson led the Lakers offensively, both going 2-3 with two runs batted in. Chase also picked up the win in the circle, pitching the six-inning shutout. She allowed just four hits, while striking out two Northeast batters.
Game Two: ILCC 11, NCC 2 (5 innings)
The Lakers came out hot offensively in game two, putting up four runs in the first. Chase and Maksim both singled, bringing Johnson up to the plate. She doubled to center, scoring Chase and advancing Maksim to third. Roundy followed with a single of her own to put the Lakers up 2-0. A McCabe sacrifice fly allowed Johnson to score from third. Roundy then took advantage of a Hawk throwing error to also score and make the score 4-0.
Franke got things started again for the Lakers in the second with a leadoff single. Chase doubled to right center, allowing Franke to score from first. Maksim followed with her second homerun of the day, making it a quick 7-0 lead for Iowa Lakes. Johnson kept things going, driving a ball to left field. With two outs, McCabe stepped up and drove a ball over the fence to give the Lakers a 9-0 lead.
Johnson and the Lakers got the Northeast batters to go down in order in the third on two strikeouts and a fly out, which brought the offense back to the plate. Franke and Chase hit back-to-back singles and both runners advanced on a Maksim walk. Roundy hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Franke and advance Chase to third. Chase then scampered across the plate on a passed ball, scoring the Lakers final run of the game.
Northeast got their only run of the game in the fourth on a Laker error and a double.
Eliya Johnson picked up the win for the Lakers. She allowed one run, zero earned, on three hits and two walks, while striking out eight. Lexi Chase was 3-3 with three runs scored in game two. Allie McCabe was 2-3 with three runs batted in and a homerun, while Amanda Franke, Eliya Johnson, and Kailey Maksim each had two hits in the game.
The Lakers will take on Des Moines Area Community College on Tuesday, April 20th at 2:00 and 4:00 PM. The games will be at Iowa Lakes Community College.
Photo ID: Photo of Eliya Johnson hitting 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.