The #17 ranked Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team has advanced to the regional championship game with a win and a loss on the day. The Lakers opened up the day with a 5-0 loss to #11 Kirkwood Community College. Then in a win or go home game, they beat Ellsworth Community College 8-0 in five innings.
GAME 1: 5 (KCC), 0 (ILCC)
The Lakers allowed three runs in the first inning to Kirkwood Community College and could never recover. Four walks and a single allowed the three runs to cross the plate in the inning.
Lexi Chase then shut the Eagles down until the third inning. The first batter reached on a Laker error and then scored on a triple off the right field fence. The second run of the inning came on a single.
Iowa Lakes had just two hits in the game. Eliya Johnson had a double in the first inning, while Alyssa Thorson reached on a single. Eliya Johnson took the loss for the Lakers. She allowed three earned runs on three walks. Lexi Chase allowed two unearned runs on four hits, three walks, and nine strikeouts.
GAME 2: 8 (ILCC), 0 (ECC) 5 innings
Bryn Bohmann started the Laker offense in game two with a double in the bottom of the third inning. Brielle Bartelt entered the game to run for Bohmann. Johnson followed with a double to score Bartelt to put the Lakers on the board. A Panther error allowed Johnson to advance to second and then scored on a Kaitlin Roundy single.
The Lakers put another three runs up in the fourth to give themselves a 5-0 lead. Amanda Franke and Alyssa Thorson opened up the inning with back to back doubles. Chase followed with a walk to load up the bases. Johnson then hit a sacrifice fly to score Franke and advance Thorson to third. Chase stole second during MacKenna Jones at bat to put herself in scoring position. Jones singled to center to score both runners for the final run of the inning.
Needing three runs to put the five inning run rule into effect, Karisa Hernandez reached first with a beautiful one out bunt. She then stole second and scored on Thorson's third hit of the game. Chase doubled and Bohmann singled for the Lakers to earn the 8-0 walk off win in the fifth inning.
Lexi Chase earned the win. She allowed zero runs on zero hits and struck out seven batters in the game. MacKenna Jones pitched one inning, allowing zero runs on zero hits. She walked one and struck out two. Alyssa Thorson was a perfect 3-3 with two runs scored, one run batted in and a stolen base. Amanda Franke and Bryn Bohmann each had multi hit games for the Lakers, while Eliya Johnson and MacKenna Jones plated two runs in the game.
Iowa Lakes will take on #11 Kirkwood Community College in the regional championship game tomorrow, May 8th. The Lakers will need to beat Kirkwood twice to advance to the district tournament. Game time is 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM with a game one win.
Photo ID: Picture of Lexi Chase pitching 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.