The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team picked up two games to open up their twelve game spring break trip to Clermont, Florida. The Lakers put up 20 runs in their 20-8 five inning win over Madison Community College. Iowa Lakes then defeated Madison in game two 4-0. The Lakers are a perfect 8-0 on the year and are receiving votes in the national junior college athletic association's poll.
GAME 1: 20 (ILCC), 8 (MCC) 5 innings
The Lakers jumped out to a quick start when Alyssa Thorson led off the game with a single. She then stole second and advanced to third on a MacKenna Jones single. Thorson then crossed the plate when Baylee O'Donnell grounded out to the shortstop.
Kiaya Dunbar got the offense going again in the second with a leadoff single. Dunbar stole second and then scored on Thorson's second hit of the game. Bryn Bohmann put the Lakers up 3-0 when she doubled to score Thorson. Bohmann advanced to third and then scampered home on an O'Donnell sacrifice fly.
Iowa Lakes broke things open in the third when they put up eight runs. Karisa Hernandez walked and then advanced to third when Paige Grafton doubled down the line. Hernandez then scored on a wild pitch to put the Lakers up 4-0. Dunbar and Grafton executed a suicide squeeze to keep the momentum in favor of the Lakers. Dunbar continued to use her speed on the base paths by scoring on a Macy Alderson triple to right. Heads up baserunning from Alderson allowed her to score on a hit from Thorson to give the Lakers an eight run lead. Thorson swiped another bag and then advanced to third on back to back walks. With the bases loaded, O'Donnell doubled to score both Thorson and Bohmann. Jones now on third, scored on another wild pitch to make the score 11-0. The final run of the inning came when Hernandez stole second and the wolfpack made a play on her, allowing O'Donnell to score.
Five straight walks to open up the fourth inning allowed two Lakers to score. A walk from Hernandez, single from Grafton, and another walk put the Lakes up 17-0 with bases loaded. Abby Zahn then singled to score Jayda Staige and a sacrifice fly from Alderson allowed two more runs to cross. The Lakers final run of the game came when Madison Goosmann scored on a Thorson single.
The Lakers were led at the plate in game one by Alyssa Thorson. She was 3-4 with four runs scored, three runs batted in, a walk, and two stolen bases. Paige Grafton was 2-4 with two runs scored on the game. MacKenna Jones picked up her fourth straight win and still has not allowed a run on the season. She allowed one hit and struck out six. Jayda Staige pitched 2 innings. She allowed eight runs, six earned, on three hits and eight walks. Staige struck out three batters in the game.
GAME 2: 4 (ILCC), 0 (MCC)
The Lakers scored first in game two, when Thorson reached second on a Madison error. Bohmann then advanced her to third on a sacrifice fly to right. Jones then hit behind the runner to give the Lakers their first run.
The Wolfpack mounted a threat in the second inning, loading the bases on an error, single, and walk. O'Donnell then got the first out of the inning on a diving catch from Thorson. The next batter struck out, before the final batter was retired on a ground ball to Bohmann.
Iowa Lakes was held scoreless, until the bottom of the fourth. Jones singled and then was pinch ran for by Brielle Bartelt. Bartelt advanced to second on a single from O'Donnell and then scooted to third on a wild pitch. Hernandez then stepped into the batters box and drove both runners in on a double to center.
The final run of the game came in the fifth when Dunbar led off with a single. She swiped her second base of the game and then advanced to third on a single from Thorson. Bohmann then hit her second sacrifice fly of the game, allowing Dunbar to score.
At the plate, Kiaya Dunbar led the Lakers. She was 2-2 with one run scored and two stolen bases. Baylee O'Donnell picked up the win (4-0), pitching 4.2 innings. She allowed zero runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out three. MacKenna Jones got some innings in relief, pitching 2.1 innings. She allowed zero runs on one hit and one strikeout.
The Lakers will play two more games tomorrow, March 13th in Clermont, Florida. Iowa Lakes will take on Heartland Community College at 11:30 AM and Triton College at 2:00 PM. Both games are in eastern time.
Photo ID: Picture of Kiaya Dunbar hitting in win over Madison 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.
Phtoto Credit: Cecil Ramsey Photography