Lakers go 2-2 on the Weekend
The Iowa Lakes softball team traveled to Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday to take on the 3rd ranked Kirkwood Eagles. The Lakers dropped both games with scores of 4-0 and 11-3.
Game One: Kirkwood- 4, Iowa Lakes- 0
In game one both teams remained scoreless until the fourth inning. The Eagles scored all four runs in the fourth on two hits and one Laker error. Kelly Drake took the loss for the Lakers allowing one earned run on just five hits, while striking out five. Offensively, Brittany Evans and Lauren Hein led the way for the Lakers each with two hits.
Game Two: Kirkwood- 11, Iowa Lakes- 3
In game two, the Eagles jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after two innings. The Lakers started the third inning with an Alyson Wendland single and stolen base. An error by the Eagle shortstop allowed Wendland to score and Brittany Evans to scurry to second base. Lauren Hein then walked before Caitlyn Clayton blasted her second double of the game, scoring Evans. The Lakers scored their only other run of the game in the fifth inning with a leadoff single from Baylee Bechen and a double from Lauren Hein.
Courtney Calkins took the loss of the Lakers allowing seven earned runs on thirteen hits. Caitlyn Clayton led the way for the Lakers going 2-2 with two doubles and a run batted in. Alyson Wendland was also 2-2 with a stolen base and a run scored.
The Lakers then traveled to Iowa Falls to take on the Ellsworth Community College Panthers. The Lakers won both games by scores of 13-1 (5 inn.) and 6-3.
Game One: Iowa Lakes- 13, Ellsworth- 1 (5 inn.)
The Lakers wasted no time getting ahead of the Panthers, scoring five runs on five hits in the top of the first. Clayton drove in the first two runs of the game on a single. Clayton later scored on a Calkins single, followed by a Drake triple to put the Lakers up 5-0.
The Lakers again took advantage of free bases in the second inning, scoring four runs on three hits. The Panthers scored their lone run in the bottom of the third after a leadoff single. Bradi Yost was then sacrificed over to second before a double by leadoff batter, Brianna Schaefer, scored her.
The seventh inning was highlighted by a Courtney Calkins homerun to score the Lakers final two runs of the game.
Kelly Drake pitched a gem for the Lakers allowing one run on three hits, while striking out six in five innings. Offensively, Courtney Calkins led the way for the Lakers going 4-4 with a homerun, four runs scored, and five runs batted in. Kelly Drake was also 3-3 with a triple and two runs batted in.
Game Two: Iowa Lakes-6, Ellsworth- 3
The Lakers again jumped out to an early lead scoring four runs in the top of the first. Baylee Bechen led off the game with a single and stolen base, before Lauren Hein blasted a triple over the right fielders head. A pair of singles from Clayton and Davis brought up Blaney Markman who doubled to score the final two runs of the inning.
The Panthers scored one run in the first and second innings to make it a 4-2 ball game. The Lakers scored just one run in both the third and fifth innings before allowing the Panthers their final run in the bottom of the fifth to win the game 6-3.
Courtney Calkins got the win for the Lakers allowing three earned runs on nine hits, while striking out five. Offensively, the Lakers were led by Baylee Bechen and Lauren Hein who each had two hits on the game. Caitlyn Clayton was also 1-2 with three runs batted in.
The Lakers will have their home opener on Wednesday, March 30th at 2:00 pm against North Iowa Area Community College.