The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team lost a heartbreaker in game one, as they fell to Kirkwood Community College in nine innings with a score of 10-9. They then dropped game two 10-2. The Lakers are now 15-7 overall and 0-4 in conference play.
GAME 1: 10 (KCC), 9 (ILCC) 9 innings
Iowa Lakes jumped out to the early lead, scoring two runs in the top of the second. Olivia Funk led off the inning with a single to left. She advanced to second on a groundout to the pitcher from Kiaya Dunbar. With two outs, Bryn Bohmann singled to second and then both runners came around to score on a MacKenna Jones double off the wall. Kirkwood loaded up the bases in the bottom of the inning, but Jones got the final out on a pop out to Paige Grafton at short.
The Lakers continued their hot hitting, when Baylee O'Donnell singled to lead off the inning. She then advanced to second on an Abby Zahn single, before scoring on a Funk double down the line. Dunbar walked to load the bases and Macy Alderson grounded into a fielder's choice to score Zahn. Macy Alderson then stole second to put runners at first and second. Bohmann delivered an infield single to score both runners and put the Lakers up 6-0.
Kirkwood would not go down without a fight. They were able to tie the game up at six a piece in the fourth. They did this on four hits and two Laker errors.
Iowa Lakes regained the lead in the top of the sixth when Grafton hit a solo homerun to left. Kirkwood responded with a solo of their own in the seventh to send the game into extra innings.
Bohmann hit a one out single in the eighth, before Grafton delivered her second homerun of the game to put the Lakers up two. The Eagles followed with two solo homeruns of their own in the bottom of the inning to keep the game going. Kirkwood scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth on a walk and two singles.
Bryn Bohmann was 3-5 with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Paige Grafton was clutch at the plate, going 2-5 with two homeruns. Karisa Hernandez and Olivia Funk each had two hits in the game. MacKenna Jones took the loss. She allowed ten runs, five earned, on sixteen hits and two walks. She struck out ten Eagles in the game.
GAME 2: 10 (KCC), 2 (ILCC)
The Lakers again took the early lead in game two. Bohmann led off with a single and then put herself into scoring position with a stolen base. She scored on a single up the middle from Jones. The Eagles got that run back in their half of the inning. Two walks, a wild pitch, and a ground out allowed one run to score.
Kirkwood added to their lead, putting three runs on the board in the second. They led off the inning with a double. This run came around to score on a passed ball and wild pitch. A walk, stolen base and wild pitch put a runner in scoring position again, but Staige got the first out of the inning on a fly out to Hernandez. Back to back singles and a walk put up the final two runs, before Bohmann caught a shot down the line that she was able to double the runner off at third to end the inning.
The Eagles made the score 6-1 in the in third with a walk and homerun.
Hernandez showed fight in the fourth when she started the inning with a double off the centerfield wall. She advanced to third on a passed ball and then scored on a Sydnee Swiggum sacrifice fly to right.
Kirkwood finished the game in the fifth, scoring four runs. They did this on five hits and a walk.
Iowa Lakes was led at the plate by MacKenna Jones. She was 2-2 with a walk. Jayda Staige suffered the loss in the circle. She pitched two innings, allowing five earned runs on three hits and five walks, while striking out one. Baylee O'Donnell pitched the final two innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits and three walks.
The Lakers will travel to Norfolk, Nebraska this weekend to play a four game series with Northeast Community College. They will play at 1:00 and 3:00 PM on Saturday and 12:00 and 2:00 PM on Sunday.
Photo ID: Picture of Paige Grafton hitting 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