The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball could only muster up a split with their games against Ellsworth Community College. MacKenna Jones earned her 13th win in the game one 14-1 five inning win. The Lakers then dropped game two 7-6. Iowa Lakes is now 24-10 overall and 9-7 in conference play.
GAME 1: 14 (ILCC), 1 (ECC) 5 innings
Alyssa Thorson got the bats going in game one with a leadoff single. She then scored on a double to center off the bat of Paige Grafton. The Panthers went 1-2-3 in their half of the inning with two strikeouts and a pop fly to Karisa Hernandez.
The second inning started with a Baylee O'Donnell walk. She advanced to second on a wild pitch and then scampered to third on a groundout from Abby Zahn. With two outs, Macy Alderson walked. Kiaya Dunbar followed with a single to score O'Donnell and then both runners scored on Thorson's double. With the Lakers up 4-0, MacKenna Jones was hit by a pitch. Grafton hit in her second RBI with a single to left, before Jones scored on a Hernandez single up the middle. With O'Donnell back up to the plate for the second time in the inning, she singled to score Grafton and put the Lakers up 7-0. Jones again shut Ellsworth down in order with a fly out to Brielle Bartelt and two strikeouts.
Jones got the rally started in the fourth inning with a leadoff single. This was followed by back to back singles from Grafton and Hernandez to load up the bases. O'Donnell followed suit with a single of her own, scoring two runs. Funk joined the party with another single to score Hernandez and make the score 10-0. Abby Zahn took advantage of an Ellsworth error to load up the bases. With the bases loaded, O'Donnell sped home on a wild pitch, before Alderson hit a sacrifice fly to score Funk. With Zahn also tagging, Dunbar also hit a sacrifice fly to put the Lakers up 13-0.
Iowa Lakes scored their final run of the game on a double by Grafton, singled by Hernandez, and single by Bartelt. The Panthers scored their lone run of the game with a walk, two passed balls, and a single.
MacKenna Jones (13-4) allowed one earned run on two hits and one walk, while striking out nine. Paige Grafton was 4-4 with three runs scored and two runs batted in during the game. Karisa Hernandez was also perfect in the game, going 3-3 with a walk.
GAME 2: 7 (ECC), 6 (ILCC)
Ellsworth took the early lead in game two, leading off the second inning with a double. They then executed a sacrifice bunt, followed by a sacrifice fly to score a run.
Iowa Lakes quickly countered with four runs in the top of the third. Jones led off with a walk and then was forced out at second on a Grafton's fielder's choice. Hernandez also drew a walk, putting Grafton into scoring position. O'Donnell singled up the middle, scoring Grafton and tying the game up at one. Funk stepped up with a three run homerun to give the Lakers a 4-1 lead. Ellsworth got one run back in the bottom half of the inning on three straight singles. The Lakers were able to work out of the inning with a double play by Zahn and Jones.
The Panthers were able to take their second lead of the game in the bottom of the sixth. They did this with a single, walk, and hit by pitch to load up the bases. With one out, Ellsworth was able to single to make the score 4-3. Jayda Staige was able to get the second out of the inning on a groundball to herself. She then walked a batter to tie the game up at 4-4. Ellsworth then single to right to score one, but Alderson came up clutch with an outfield assist to end the inning.
With two outs, the Lakers didn't show quit. Funk singled and Bartelt entered the game to run for her. Zahn singled to right, allowing Bartelt to advance to third. Alderson followed with a single of her own to left to score the tying run. Dunbar then put the ball in play to short, which was misplayed, allowing Zahn to score and give the Lakers the lead. Ellsworth led off the bottom of the seventh with a single. Staige got the first out of the inning on a strikeout, before giving up a walk to put a runner in scoring position. Two singles allowed two Panthers runners to score for the walk off win.
Olivia Funk was 2-4 with three runs batted in, while Abby Zahn was also 2-4 in the game. Jayda Staige suffered the loss in game two. She allowed four earned runs on three hits, three walks, and a hit by pitch. She struck out one in the game. Baylee O'Donnell started the game, pitching five innings. She allowed three earned runs on seven hits, while striking out two. MacKenna Jones pitched .1 innings, allowing two hits and striking out one.
The Lakers will return home for a doubleheader against Dakota Wesleyan JV on Tuesday, April 11th. Game times will be at 4:00 and 6:00 PM.
Photo ID: Picture of MacKenna Jones 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.
Photography: Cecil Ramsey Photography