The Iowa Lakes Softball team took two losses in the final two games of their series against Kirkwood Community College. The Eagles took game one 6-4 and game two 7-2. Iowa Lakes is now 20-16 overall and 20-14 in conference.
Game One: KCC 6, ILCC 4
It was a hard-fought battle in game one, but ultimately the Kirkwood Eagles won the sixth inning to win the game.
Iowa Lakes took the early lead, scoring one run in their first offensive trip. Lexi Chase led off the game with a single and advanced to third on a double from Eliya Johnson. A one out single off the bat of Kaitlin Roundy gave the Lakers their first lead.
The Lakers took a 2-0 lead after the second, when Mackenna Otte led off the inning with a single. She advanced to second on a ground out from Gabby West and then scored on a two out double from Chase.
The Eagles got one run back in the bottom of the second on a one out double and two out single.
Iowa Lakes loaded the bases in the third on a double from Roundy, reach on error from Kamryn Buntrock, and bunt single from Allie McCabe. Unfortunately, the Lakers could not capitalize on this, as the next three Laker hitter failed to put the ball in play.
The Eagles took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the third. They led off with a single, but then a double play by Otte and Kailey Maksim cleared the bases. The next two Kirkwood batters hit back-to-back homeruns to make the score 3-2 in favor of the home team.
Iowa Lakes came right back offensively when Chase led off with a walk and Maksim singled to left. A ground out advanced both runners before Chase scored on a Roundy sacrifice fly.
With the game tied 3-3, the Lakers put together a two-out rally in the sixth. Maksim hit her second single of the day and then stole second on a ball in the dirt. Johnson then drove a ball to center field, scoring Maksim and giving the Lakers the lead going in to the bottom of the sixth.
To leadoff the bottom of the sixth, the Eagles put the ball over the left field fence to tie the game back up. A one out walk advanced to second on a hit by pitch and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Kirkwood then drove a ball off the left field fence to score both runners and complete the 6-4 win.
Lexi Chase took the loss for the Lakers, pitching six innings. She allowed six earned runs on eight hits, one walk, one hit by pitch while striking out four Kirkwood batters. At the plate, the Lakers were led by Kaitlin Roundy. She went 2-3 with two runs batted in. Eliya Johnson, Kailey Maksim, and Lexi Chase each had two hits in the game as well.
Game Two: KCC 7, ILCC 2
Kirkwood got on the board first, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first. They did this on a walk and homerun. The Eagles put up another three runs in the fourth on three hits, one walk, one error, and one sacrifice fly.
Iowa Lakes got on the score board in the top of the sixth when Maksim drew a one out walk. She then advanced to second on a ball in the dirt and scored on a ground ball up the middle from Johnson.
The Eagles tacked on two more runs in the sixth on five straight singles. The Lakers worked out of the bases loaded jam by getting the next three batters out on a fly out to Otte, strikeout, and line out to Kiley Hill.
With two outs, the Lakers showed a little fight. Hill hit a single to right and then scored from first on a double to right center from Amanda Franke.
Eliya Johnson took the game two loss. She allowed seven runs, six earned, in six innings. This was on ten hits and four walks with three strikeouts. At the plate, Kiley Hill, Amanda Franke, and Eliya Johnson each had a hit. Amanda Franke and Eliya Johnson each had an RBI while Kailey Maksim reached base two times and scored once.
The Lakers will travel to Boone, Iowa on Tuesday, April 27th, to take on #3 Des Moines Area Community College. Games times will be at 2:00 and 4:00 PM. Iowa Lakes will return home on Wednesday, April 28th, to compete against Division I Iowa Western Community College. Those games will be played at 2:00 and 4:00 PM as well.
Photo ID: Photo of Kiley Hill catching a fly ball 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.