The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team put up twenty-eight runs in five innings to sweep Ellsworth Community College. The Lakers were victorious in game one with a score of 11-1 in five innings and in game two 17-2 in five innings. Iowa Lakes is now 23-9 overall and 8-6 in conference.
GAME 1: 11 (ILCC), 1 (ECC) 5 innings
With two outs in the first, the Lakers were able to load up the bases. MacKenna Jones walked, Paige Grafton doubled, and Karisa Hernandez walked. Baylee O'Donnell drew a full count walk to score the first run of the game. Olivia Funk then stepped up and doubled down the line, clearing the bases and giving the Lakers a 4-0 lead. Jones was able to sit the
The Laker bats stayed quiet until the fourth when they scored five runs. Dunbar led off the inning with a walk. She then stole second. Bryn Bohmann was hit by a pitch, before Jones walked for the second time to load up the bases. Grafton followed with a single to score two runs, before O'Donnell walk to load up the bases. Funk came up clutch for the Lakers again, singling to score Jones and Grafton. With the Lakers up 8-0, Alderson extended the lead with a single to left to score O'Donnell.
Iowa Lakes' final two runs came in the top of the fifth with a Bohmann double and Jones homerun. The Panthers were able to score their lone run in the bottom of the fifth. They did this on a single, walk, and double. Jones then buckled down and got the final two outs to fly out to Hernandez and Brielle Bartelt.
Olivia Funk was the leader in the box for the Lakers. She was 2-3 with five runs batted in. Paige Grafton was also 2-3 with two runs scored. MacKenna Jones got the win in the circle, allowing one earned run on three hits and two walks, while striking out four.
GAME 2: 17 (ILCC), 2 (ECC) 5 innings
Iowa Lakes was able to get off to a great start offensively. Thorson singled and then put herself in scoring position with a stolen base. Jones then drilled a ball to left field that was misplayed by the Panthers, allowing Thorson to score. Jones was able to advance to second on the error and then scored on a Grafton single. Grafton was forced out at second on a Hernandez ground ball. Hernandez then swiped second base and scampered home on a Funk single.
With the Lakers up 3-0, they got into some trouble in the bottom half of the inning. O'Donnell walked the first batter and then allowed a single to put a runner in scoring position. The next batter grounded into a fielder's choice with Grafton and Hernandez. With runners on the corners, the Panthers came up with a single to score their first run of the game. Both runners were able to advance on the throw to put two runners in scoring position. A sacrifice fly scored Ellsworth's final run of the game. O'Donnell ended the threat herself with a strikeout.
Iowa Lakes extended their lead with a run in the second. Macy Alderson reached on an Ellsworth error to lead off the inning. Alderson then stole second, before advancing to third on a Kiaya Dunbar groundout. Thorson then scored Alderson on a sacrifice fly.
Hernandez got the rally going in the third with a double and the Lakers never looked back. Hernandez advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored on an O'Donnell single. Funk singled up the middle to advance O'Donnell to third and then she advanced to second on the throw. Abby Zahn followed with a single of her own, scoring both runners. Zahn advanced to second on an error by the left fielder. Zahn moved up to third on an Alderson groundout. Dunbar then stepped up and executed a beautiful squeeze to score Zahn and give the Lakers an 8-2 lead. Dunbar then advanced on a hard hit groundball from Thorson. Jones gave the Lakers an eight run lead, scoring both runners on a single down the left field line. Grafton kept the inning going with a single, before Hernandez loaded up the bases with a walk. O'Donnell put the Lakers up 12-2 with a single to left, scoring Jones and Grafton.
Back to back walks to Dunbar and Thorson led off the fourth. Grafton picked up her third hit of the game to score Dunbar from second. Hernandez again loaded the bases, but this time with a pretty sneaky bunt. O'Donnell drew a bases loaded walk to score Thorson.
With the Lakers up 14-2, Thorson gave the Lakers their final two runs of the game on a homerun to left. Brielle Bartelt was on base due to a walk. The Lakers flashed some defense in the bottom of the inning to finish the game. A leadoff single was squashed with a double play by Grafton, Hernandez, and Madison Goosmann. The Panthers got another runner on with a single, before she was forced out on a fielder's choice by Grafton and Hernandez.
The Lakers combined for seventeen hits in five innings. Paige Grafton was 4-5 with three runs batted in. Baylee O'Donnell, Paige Grafton, MacKenna Jones, and Alyssa Thorson combined for twelve runs batted in. Baylee O'Donnell earned the game two win, allowing two earned runs on six hits and one walk. She struck out three Panthers in the game.
The Lakers will take on Ellsworth Community College in another doubleheader tomorrow, April 8th. Games will be played at Ellsworth, with game times of 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM.
Photo ID: Picture of Olivia Funk batting 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.
Photography: Cecil Ramsey Photography