The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team dropped two games to Iowa Central. With the two losses, the Lakers are now 27-13 overall and 10-10 in conference.

GAME 1: 13 (ICCC), 8 (ICC) 8 innings

The Lakers were able to jump out to the early lead when Alyssa Thorson led off the game with a single. She then stole second before MacKenna Jones drew a walk. With one out, Karisa Hernandez singled to score Thorson. With Jones now on third base, Olivia Funk was able to push a ball to the outfield to give the Lakers a 2-0 lead.

Iowa Lakes tacked another two runs in the second. Macy Alderson singled and then stole two straight bases. Alderson came around to score on a Kiaya Dunbar single. Dunbar swiped second base and then crossed home on a Jones single.

Iowa Central was able to put up their first run of the game in the top of the fourth. They scored one unearned run on a Laker error and followed by a double. The Lakers were still able to win the inning when they rallied to put up two in their half of the inning. Dunbar reached on a Triton error. She then stole second and advanced to third on Thorson's single. Both runners scored on a Jones double.

The Tritons were able to score another run in the fifth on a single, double, and Laker error. Iowa Central put up two in the sixth on two solo homeruns. Jones and Paige Grafton were able to get two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth on back to back homeruns.

With the Lakers up 8-4, Iowa Central scored four runs in the top of the seventh to send the game into extra innings. They did this on four hits, including one double and one homerun. The Tritons put the game away in the top of the eighth with five runs. This was done on two singles, one double, one homerun, and one walk.

MacKenna Jones reached base in all five of her plate appearances. She was just a triple away from the cycle and also walked two times. Jones suffered the loss for the Lakers. She allowed eleven earned runs on thirteen hits and one walk. She struck out eleven in the game.

GAME 2: 11 (ICCC), 2 (ILCC) 5 innings

Iowa Central continued their hot hitting in game two. They scored three runs to start the game on one hit, one Laker error, and one walk.

Iowa Lakes was able to make it a one run ballgame, when they put two runs up on the board. Thorson led off with a double and then scored on Grafton's second homerun of the day.

The Tritons scored seven runs in the fourth on five hits, one error, and one walk. They tacked on one more run in the fifth on two hits.

Paige Grafton was responsible for the two runs scored in game two. Alyssa Thorson, MacKenna Jones, and Kiaya Dunbar each added a hit in the game. Jayda Staige took the loss for the Lakers. She allowed five earned runs on seven hits and two walks, while striking out three. Baylee O'Donnell threw 1.1 innings, allowing one earned run on two hits.

The Lakers are back in action on Thursday in a non-conference matchup against Dakota County Technical College. These games will be played at the Iowa Lakes Softball field at 2:00 and 4:00 PM.

Photo ID: Picture of MacKenna Jones catching a fly ball in foul territory.

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