The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team split in their two games series with Iowa Central Community College. The Lakers won game one 14-6 and then lost game two 16-4. The Lakers are now 27-11 overall and 19-8 in conference play.
GAME 1: 14 (ILCC), 6 (ICC) 5 innings
The Lakers and the Tritons were in a good old fashioned pitcher's duel until Iowa Lakes put up five runs in the third inning. Alyssa Thorson, MacKenna Jones, and Paige Grafton each walked to load up the bases. With one out, Baylee O'Donnell singled up the middle to score the first run of the game. Olivia Funk followed with a sacrifice fly to score Jones from third. With runners at second and third, Abby Zahn hit a fly ball that was misplayed by Iowa Central to clear the bases. With two outs, Macy Alderson singled to left to give the Lakers a 5-0 lead.
Iowa Central was able to get two runs back in the fourth when they drew a two out walk that was followed by a homerun. Iowa Lakes did not let the Tritons keep the momentum for long, as Thorson led off their half of the inning with a single. She then advanced to second on a single from Jones and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. A ground ball from Grafton was able to score Thorson and advance Jones to third. Karisa Hernandez then was the first out of the inning when she hit a sacrifice fly to score Jones and give the Lakers a 7-2 lead. With Grafton now at third, O'Donnell hit a groundball to second, allowing Grafton to score. The final run of the inning came off the bat of Funk that resulted in a homerun.
The Tritons were able to make the score 9-3 when they hit a double and single in the fifth to score one.
The top of the sixth saw Iowa Central bring the game to within three runs. A single, double, and homerun made the score 9-6 entering the bottom of the inning. Grafton led off the inning with a single and then Hernandez reached on a Triton error. O'Donnell followed with a groundball behind the runners to advance them into scoring position. Funk kept her hot hitting going with a double to left center, scoring both Grafton and Hernandez. With Brielle Bartelt entering the game for Funk at second, Alderson singled to right, scoring Bartelt. With Iowa Lakes now just two runs away from ending the game early, Kiaya Dunbar stepped into the box and blasted a ball to center for the walk-off hit.
Offensively, Olivia Funk was perfect at the plate. She was 3-3 with four runs batted in. Macy Alderson and Kiaya Dunbar each had two hits and two runs batted in for the Lakers. In the circle, Jones pitched all six innings. She allowed six runs, five earned, on eight hits and four walks, while striking out nine.
GAME 2: 16 (ICC), 4 (ILCC) 5 innings
Iowa Lakes spotted Iowa Central ten runs in the top of the first and never could recover. The Tritons scored their runs on two walks, nine hits, a fielder's choice, and a Laker error. The Lakers were able to get two runs back in the bottom of the inning. Thorson led off the inning with a homerun to left. Grafton was able to reach first on a dropped third strike. She then advanced to third on a single from Jayda Staige and then came around to score on a Funk single.
The Lakers were able to tack on two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Alderson led off the inning with a double and then came around to score on Thorson's single up the middle. Thorson put herself into scoring position with a stolen base and then scampered home on a single off the bat of Grafton.
Iowa Central made the score 11-4 in the top of the fifth when they led off the inning with a walk. The runner then advanced to third on a double and scored on a sacrifice fly.
After a thirty minute lightning delay, the Lakers just could not get anything started. They allowed Iowa Central to score five more runs on two hits and three walks.
Alyssa Thorson was 2-3 with two runs scored, two runs batted in, and two stolen bases. Olivia Funk was 2-3 with one run batted in. Baylee O'Donnell suffered the loss, allowing nine runs, four earned, on six hits and two walks. Jayda Staige pitched 5.1 innings, allowing seven earned runs on seven hits and six walks. She struck out five in the contest.
The Lakers will play against Iowa Central on Sunday, April 16th, at 2:00 and 4:00 PM on their home field. For weather updates, please check the Iowa Lakes Athletics website or follow Iowa Lakes Softball on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
Photo ID: Picture of Madison Goosmann 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.
Photography: Cecil Ramsey Photography