The Iowa Lakes softball team began conference play against Iowa Central today. They took game one 16-2 in five innings and got another win 6-4 in game two. Iowa Lakes is now 11-2 overall and 2-0 in conference.
GAME 1: 16 (ILCC), 2 (ICCC)
Iowa Central struck first in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs on a Laker error, a walk, and two hits.
The Lakers got one run back in the top of the second on a Kaitlin Roundy solo homerun. Lexi Chase and the Laker defense buckled down and got three quick outs on a ground out, sacrifice bunt, and strikeout.
Iowa Lakes kept their momentum going in the top of the third, putting up six runs. Amanda Franke got things started with a leadoff single. Chase stepped up and hit the second homerun of the game to right to put the Lakers ahead 3-2. Karisa Hernandez followed with a single and advanced to second on a Bryn Bohmann single. Eliya Johnson walked to load the bases before Kaitlin Roundy hit a ball to right scoring Hernandez. With one out and runners on the corners, Roundy swiped second base to put herself in scoring position. Allie McCabe doubled down the line, scoring both runners and making the score 6-2. The Lakers capitalized on a Triton error off the bat of Thorson to score their final run of the inning.
After a quick 1, 2, 3, inning, the Lakers got the bats going again in the fourth inning. Hernandez led off with a bunt single, which was again followed by a Bohmann single and Johnson homerun to clear the bases. Back to back doubles by Roundy and McCabe brought up MacKenna Jones who drove a ball to left field, scoring both runners. Brielle Bartelt entered the game at first and came around to score on singles from Ayssa Thorson and Franke. Chase then followed with a single of her own, scoring Thorson and giving the Lakers a 14-2 lead. Hernandez came up with her fourth hit of the game to load the bases to bring up Bohmann. A Bohmann walk and Triton error brought in the final two Laker runs of the game.
Iowa Central tried to get things started in the fourth, but Chase and the Lakers stopped the threat. A single and double put two Triton runners in scoring position early. Chase got the next two batters to go down swinging before recording the final out of the inning on a fly ball to Thorson.
Karisa Hernandez led the Lakers at the plate, going 4-4 with two runs scored. Kaitlin Roundy was 3-3 with three runs scored and two runs batted in, while Lexi Chase, Bryn Bohmann, Allie McCabe, and Amanda Franke each had multi-hit games. Chase allowed two runs, zero earned, on five hits, one walk, and four strikeouts. MacKenna Jones pitched the final inning for the Lakers, allowing one hit and striking out two Triton batters.
GAME 2: 6 (ILCC), 4 (ICCC)
The Lakers took the early lead in game two, scoring two in the first on a Chase single and Bohmann homerun. Iowa Lakes' defense was a little shaky to start, allowing two runners on back to back errors. A double play on a lineout to Johnson got the Lakers out of the inning.
The Tritons got on the scoreboard next, scoring one run in the bottom of the second on a solo homerun.
Hernandez continued her hot hitting in game two, getting a one out double in the third to start the Laker offense. Bohmann and Roundy walked to load the bases before McCabe doubled to center, scoring two runs. Paige Grafton followed with a single to give the Lakers the 6-1 lead. Iowa Central got one run back in the third with a leadoff walk, stolen base, groundout, and passed ball.
The score remained 6-2, until the Tritons made things interesting the bottom of the sixth. They scored two runs on a double and homerun to bring the game within two runs. Johnson made quick work of Iowa Central in the seventh, getting the batters to go down in order.
Bryn Bohmann was the leader at the plate, going 2-3 with a walk, two runs scored, and two runs batted in. Lexi Chase was 2-4 with one run scored. Johnson was the winning the pitcher, allowing four earned runs on four hits, two walks, and three strikeouts.
The Lakers will finish their four games series against Iowa Central tomorrow, March 20th. First pitch will be at 12:00 PM, with game two starting at 2:00 PM.
Photo ID: Photo Bryn Bohmann hitting a homerun 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.
Photo Credit: Cecil Ramsey Photography