The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team split day two with the Bobcats of Southeast, ending the series with a 2-2 record. The Lakers fought in game one but fell short with a final score of 11-12. They came back hard in the second game finishing with a final score of 14-9.
Game 1: 11 (ILCC), 12 (SCC)
Southeast struck first, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. They scored on three singles, two doubles, and a walk.
The Lakers would come back to score in the top of the second. The first run to come across would be Karlee Akers on a Bailey Smith single. Kaitlyn DuChateau and Abby Burgess would both follow with a walk. Smith, DuChateau, and Burgess would score on a double from Marissa Miller. The bottom of the second would see two more runs from the Bobcats on a walk, double, and single.
The Lakers would not score again until the top of the fourth. Marrissa Miller would reach first on a walk and advance to third on a single from Taylor Larson. Karlee Akers would then score Marrissa Miller on a sacrifice bunt. In the circle for the Lakers, Macy Picket would shut down the bottom of the fourth and allow no runs for the Bobcats.
The fifth inning would see a single from Kaitlyn Duchateau and a walk from Abby Burgess. Miller would be hit by a pitch to load the bases. Both Pickett and Larson would talk walks, allowing the only two runs of the half-inning to come across. The Bobcats would score one in the bottom of the fifth and three in the bottom of the sixth to extend their lead to five runs.
The Lakers would fight back in the top of the seventh with a leadoff walk from Marrissa Miller. Macy Pickett would score Miller on a single to the left fielder. Alexis Cullinane would single on a hard ground ball to the center fielder, scoring Akers and Pickett. The final score of the inning would come from a Kaitlyn Duchateau ground ball, scoring Korilynn Christians.
Kassidy Elkins would take the loss for the Lakers, pitching 2.0 innings and allowing five runs. Marrissa Miller led the Lakers at the plate, going 2-2 with two walks followed by Karlee Akers going 3-4.
Game 2: 14 (ILCC), 9 (SCC)
The second game would start much slower than the first, seeing no score from either team until the top of the third when Bailey Smith hit her first career home run to center field. The Bobcats would fight back, scoring two on two doubles and a single.
The top of the fourth would see a double from Karlee Akers and a single to left field from Smith to score her. Kaitlyn DuChateau would add a double to the left fielder, scoring Smith and putting the Lakers in the lead by one. In the circle, Taylor Larson would allow Southeast to score two runs on two singles and a double.
Marrissa Miller would single on a ball to right field and be scored by a Taylor Larson two-run homer to left field in the top of the fifth. The Lakers would falter in the bottom of the fifth, allowing two runs on two doubles, a single, and an error.
The top of the sixth was eventful for the Lakers, starting off with a double from Smith. Abby Burgess would lay down a bunt for a hit, scoring Smith. DuChateau, Burgess, and Miller would score on a double from Akers, allowing the Lakers to take a two-run lead. The Bobcats would tie the game again in the bottom of the sixth on three singles and a double.
The final stretch of the game saw a double from Alexis Cullinane to start off the top of the seventh. Myla Murphy would come in to run for Cullinane, stealing third in the next at-bat. Duchateau would come up big with a sac fly to score Murphy, helping the Lakers to take the lead once again. Miller would hit a double to score Burgess, and Macy Pickett hit a double to score Miller. The final runs for the Lakers would come from Larson's second two-run home run of the day, extending the Laker's lead to five runs.
Kassidy Elkins would come in to shut the door on the Bobcats, striking out two in the seventh. Elkins was granted the save for the game, while Taylor Larson would be granted the win. Larson threw 6.0 innings, allowing eight earned runs and striking out five. Miller would lead the Lakers at the plate, going 4-6 on the day. Larson and Akers would tally five and four RBI's respectively.
The Lakers return tomorrow to take on Cloud County Community College at 11a & 1p.