The Lakers open up the weekend hosting Ellsworth Community College. The Lakers took game one in five innings, winning 8-0 with the help of a no-hitter. The second game ended early in the sixth inning after a walk-off homerun to win 9-1. Iowa Lakes Softball is now 28-10-1 overall and 11-7 in conference.
GAME 1: 8 (ILCC), 0 (ECC) 5 innings
Lakers first got on the board in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Things were started by Paige Grafton who drew a walk. She quickly advanced to third on an Allie McCabe single. After McCabe stole second, Brielle Bartelt put the ball in play which caused a Panther error, scoring both Grafton and McCabe. After back-to-back walks to Amanda Franke and Lexi Chase, bases were loaded for Karisa Hernandez. Hernandez was patient at the plate and walked, allowing Bartelt to score the final run of the inning, putting the Lakers up 3-0.
Three quick outs in the top of the third put the Lakers back up to bat to threaten to score again. Grafton started off the inning drawing her second walk of the game. Although she was forced out on a fielder's choice, McCabe was able to get on, steal second, and score from a single off the bat of Bartelt. Using her speed, Bartelt stole second putting herself into scoring position. Franke stepped up and singled to the right side, scoring Bartelt and putting Iowa Lakes up 5-0.
After a strike out and double play by the Laker defense, Iowa Lakes had another chance to score in the bottom of the fourth. This time, Hernandez hit her first homerun on the year to add one to the scoreboard, giving the Lakers a 6-0 lead.
Going into the bottom of the fifth, the Lakers were determined to end the game early. The inning was started by Bartelt, who reached on a Panther error. She then advanced from a Franke single. Alyssa Thorson laid down a nice bunt to load the bases. Lexi Chase then stepped up and laced a double down the left field line to score both Bartelt and Franke, ending the game in the bottom of the fifth.
The Lakers were led by Brielle Bartelt who had one hit, three RBI's, and three runs scored. Franke was 2-2 at the plate with a walk, RBI, and run scored. Chase and Hernandez each had one hit and two RBI's. Eliya Johnson threw her first no hitter of the season. She gave up zero hits, four walks, and ten strikeouts in the showing.
GAME 2: 9 (ILCC), 1 (ECC) 6 innings
The Lakers struck first in the second game of the day. In the bottom of the second, MacKenna Jones started things off by drawing a walk. Grafton reached on an Ellsworth error, putting runners at first and second for Iowa Lakes. Franke kept her hot bat going, hitting a double to score both Jones and Grafton, putting the Lakers up 2-0.
The Panthers got one back in the top of the 4th with a lead off homerun, but Iowa Lakes wasn't done yet. In the bottom of the 4th, another lead off walk started things for the Lakers, this time by McCabe. After a sacrifice bunt from Bartelt, McCabe advanced to third by good baserunning. Franke and Thorson both walked, bringing Chase up to the plate. Chase hit a bases clearing stand up double to bring the score to 5-1 after the 4th.
In the bottom of the 5th, Grafton got on by a walk, but was called out on a fielder's choice from McCabe. Again, McCabe kept up her good baserunning and stole second. Bartelt walked, and Thorson followed up with a single to score McCabe and advance Bartelt to third. With both runners in scoring position, Chase stepped up again and singled to the left side, scoring both Bartelt and Thorson to bring the Laker lead to 7.
Jones was not content with the 7 run lead and hit a walk-off homerun to end the game in the bottom of the sixth, giving the Lakers the 9-1 win.
Lexi Chase led the Lakers at the plate, going 3-4 with a double, triple, and five RBI's. Franke, Grafton, Jones, and Thorson each added a hit of their own. Chase got the win on the mound, going 4.0 innings, striking out five, allowing one hit and one earned run. Jones also added 2.0 innings on the mound, striking out two and giving up just one hit.
Iowa Lakes Softball will be back on the field on Sunday, April 24th against Ellsworth Community College for Sophomore Day. Game times will be at 12:00 & 2:00 PM with a celebration for the sophomores between the two games.
Photo ID: Picture of team celebrating after a MacKenna Jones homerun.
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.