The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team took their first loss of the season today. The Lakers dropped game one to Heartland Community College 19-7, before bouncing back and beating Triton College 12-0 in five innings. Iowa Lakes is now 9-1 on the season and ranked #20 in the national junior college athletic association's national poll.
GAME 1: 19 (HCC), 7 (ILCC)
Iowa Lakes did not look cohesive in game one. As a team, they allowed nineteen runs, fourteen earned, on fifteen hits and four walks, while striking out five. The Lakers committed eight errors in the game.
The Lakers made a threat in the fourth when Paige Grafton led off with a single and then advanced to third on an error off a Sydnee Swiggum bunt. Kiaya Dunbar and Macy Alderson each singled to load the bases. Alyssa Thorson hit her second double of the game to score both Swiggum and Dunbar. Bryn Bohmann followed with a single of her own to score both runners and put the score at 6-5 in favor of Heartland.
Iowa Lakes got two runs in the fifth when Alderson walked on two outs. Thorson singled and then both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Alderson then scored on a passed ball before Thorson followed on Bohmann's single.
Alyssa Thorson was the bright spot for the Lakers in game one. She was 4-5 with two doubles, two runs scored, and two runs batted in. Kiaya Dunbar had two hits in the game as well. Jayda Staige suffered the loss going 5.2 innings. She allowed ten runs, five earned, on four hits, four walks, and three hit batters. Staige struck out four batters. Baylee O'Donnell pitched 1.1 innings allowing nine earned runs on eleven hits and one walk. She struck out one in the ballgame.
GAME 2: 12 (ILCC), 0 (TC)
Both teams were held scoreless, until the Lakers opened the game up with seven runs in the third inning. The Lakers loaded up the bases with an Abby Zahn walk, Dunbar single, and Alderson walk. Thorson hit a sacrifice fly to allow Zahn to score the first run of the game. Bohmann singled to score Dunbar and advance Alderson to second. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, before Alderson scored on a Triton error. O'Donnell singled to load the bases. Another wild pitch allowed Bohmann to score and Jones and O'Donnell advance. With two outs, Grafton doubled to put the Lakers up 6-0. The final run of the inning came from a Zahn single.
The Lakers scored another two runs in the fourth. Alderson led off with a walk. She stole second and then advanced to third on a Triton error. Thorson stole to put two runners in scoring position. Bohmann hit a sacrifice fly, allowing Alderson to score and Thorson to advance to third. Thorson then scored on a MacKenna Jones groundout to second base.
Karisa Hernandez led off the fifth with a pretty bunt. She advanced to second on a Triton error, before the bases were loaded with a Zahn walk. Brielle Bartelt entered the game to run for Zahn. Dunbar and Alderson each singled to clear the bases and give the Lakers the 12-0 victory.
MacKenna Jones has yet to allow a run this season, as she picked up her fifth win of the season. She pitched five innings, giving up just one hit, walking three, and striking out seven. Kiayda Dunbar led the Lakers at the plate, going 2-3 with one run batted in and one run scored.
The Lakers will play three games tomorrow, March 14th. They will take on South Suburban College at 9:00 AM, Black Hawk College at 11:30 AM, and Defiance College JV at 2:00 PM. All game times are in the eastern time zone.
Photo ID: Picture of Abby Zahn hitting in the win over Triton College.
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