The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball went 2-2 in their regional tournament this past weekend. They fell in game one to Des Moines Area Community College 5-4 in eight innings. The Lakers then won two straight elimination games, first over Northeast Community College 7-3 and then to the number one seed in the tournament North Iowa Area Community College 6-2. The Lakers then faced Des Moines Area Community College in the regional championship game where they lost 4-0. The Lakers finish the year with a 35-19 overall record.
GAME 1: 5 (DMACC), 4 (ILCC) 8 innings
The Bears got on the board first, scoring two runs in the first inning on two walks and a single.
Iowa Lakes scored their first run of the game in the top of the fourth when Karisa Hernandez reached second on a DMACC error. Baylee O'Donnell then singled up the middle to score Hernandez.
DMACC added to their lead with a solo homerun in the bottom of the fifth. They plated an additional run in the bottom of the sixth when the leadoff batter reached third on a Laker error. The Bears then executed a suicide squeeze to give themselves an insurance run.
With the Lakers down 4-1 going into the final inning, they scored three runs to send the game into extra innings. Olivia Funk led off with a single up the middle. Jayda Staige entered to pinch hit and hit into a fielder's choice. Macy Alderson re-entered at first and advanced to second on a walk. Alyssa Thorson then doubled to center to score Alderson. With Dunbar at third, Bryn Bohmann hit a sacrifice fly to score one and put the tying run just 60 feet away. Paige Grafton then poked a two strike single to left to score Alderson.
Unfortunately, the Bears scored one in the eighth on two singles and a Laker error.
Alyssa Thorson, Bryn Bohmann, Paige Grafton, and Baylee O'Donnell each had one hit and an RBI in the game. Karisa Hernandez and Olivia Funk each added a hit as well in the game. MacKenna Jones suffered the loss for the Lakers, throwing every inning. She allowed five runs, three earned, on nine hits and three walks, while striking out four.
GAME 2: 7 (ILCC), 3 (NCC)
Alyssa Thorson got things started in the first elimination game of the day with a leadoff homerun on the first pitch she saw. Iowa Lakes extended their lead in the second with four runs. Funk led off with a single and then scored on a Dunbar homerun. Thorson then followed again on the first pitch of the at bat with a homerun to right. Bohmann doubled down the right field line and was then lifted for Madison Goosmann, who quickly scored on a single by MacKenna Jones. Iowa Lakes added one run in the fifth on a Funk walk and a double from Dunbar.
Northeast tried to make things interesting by scoring three in the top of the sixth. They did this on two singles and two Laker errors. The Lakers scored their final run of the game in the seventh on a double by Thorson and single by Sydnee Swiggum.
Alyssa Thorson was 3-3 with three runs scored and two runs batted in. Kiaya Dunbar was 2-3 with three runs batted in, while MacKenna Jones added two hits as well. Jayda Staige earned the win, pitching 5.1 innings. She allowed three runs, zero earned, on two hits and three walks, while striking out six. MacKenna Jones got the save, pitching 1.2 innings and allowing no runs or no hits and striking out two.
GAME 3: 6 (ILCC), 2 (NIACC)
Iowa Lakes jumped out to the early lead with a single from Thorson. She then stole second and then scored on Jones' single to left.
Dunbar added to the lead with a solo homerun in the third inning. NIACC was able to score one in the bottom half of the inning. A single and double started off the inning. Jones then got the first out of the inning to fly out to O'Donnell. A four pitch walk then loaded the bases, which was quickly followed by a single up the middle to score one. With the bases still loaded, the next batter hit a fly ball to Bartelt in left, which she caught. She then threw out the runner at home that was attempting to tag up from third.
With the Lakers still up 2-1, the Trojans tied up the game in the bottom of the fourth. A one out single was followed by a two base Iowa Lakes error. A sacrifice fly to center allowed the runner from third to score. The final out was recorded with a fly out to Grafton.
The game was tied going into the seventh, when the Lakers scored four. Funk led off the inning with a one pitch homerun to center. Staige followed with a single to right and then a single and Trojan error on Macy Alderson's bunt allowed runners to advance to third and second. Dunbar then hit a sacrifice fly to right, allowing Abby Zahn to score from third. Thorson continued her hot hitting with a single to score Alderson. She quickly put herself into scoring position with a stolen base and then scored on a Trojan error on a bunt from Hernandez to give the Lakers a 6-2 lead. Jones and the Lakers were fired up in the bottom of the seventh, quickly ending the game with a strikeout, single, fly out to Alderson, and a strikeout.
MacKenna Jones earned the win in the circle, pitching the complete game. She allowed two runs, one earned, on seven hits and three walks, while striking out five. Alyssa Thorson was again 3-3 with two runs scored and three stolen bases. Kaiya Dunbar was 1-2 with two runs scored.
GAME 4: 4 (DMACC), 0 (ILCC)
The Bears took the lead in the first inning of the regional championship game and never looked back. They put up one run in the first on a walk, single, and groundout.
The game then went into a 1.5 hour lightening delay, which did not bode well for the Lakers. DMACC was able to plate two more runs in the third with a walk and homerun. Their final run came in the sixth with a walk and then back to back two out singles.
Alyssa Thorson was 2-3 in the game. MacKenna Jones suffered the loss, allowing four earned runs in six innings pitched. She gave up five hits and three walks, while striking out three.
Photo ID: Picture of Iowa Lakes Softball Team 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.