A big sixth inning pushed Lakers to a 9-6 victory over Waubonsee Community College in game one on Friday. Shelby Davis and Deanna Gerrard each drove in 3 runs in the game. The Lakers again used a three run sixth inning to acquire the 9-6 win over Illinois Valley Community College in their last game of the trip. The Lakers finished the week with an 8-2 record.

Game One: ILCC 9, WCC 6

A slow start for the Lakers saw the Chiefs take a 4-0 lead in the top of the fourth. The Lakers buckled down and scored five runs of their own in the third. Julia Sullwold led the Lakers off with a single and was followed by Lauren Hein and Leilani San Pedro who each singled as well. Gerrard then hit a double down the right field line to score Sullwold and Hein and advance San Pedro to third. The Lakers used some savvy base running on a Davis sacrifice fly to right field to score San Pedro and Gerrard. Courtney Calkins scored the final run of the inning with a solo homerun to left center.

The Chiefs and Lakers exchanged runs in the fifth before the Lakers scored three in the bottom of the sixth. Sullwold again led the rally with a single. Davis hit a single with runners on the corner to score Sullwold and advance San Pedro to second. Calkins was hit by a pitch to bring Blaney Markman up with the bases loaded. Markman hit a single to left field to score two runners to make the score 9-6.

The Chiefs tried to make a comeback in the seventh, but the Lakers buckled down and only allowed one run.

The Lakers were led at the plate by Deanna Gerrard who was 2-3 with a homerun, three runs batted in, and two runs scored of her own. Julia Sullwold also had a great game, going 3-4 at the plate with two runs scored. Calkins advanced to 7-0 on the year. She allowed five earned runs on thirteen hits, three walks, and nice strikeouts.

Game Two: ILCC 9, IVCC 7

Another slow start from the Lakers saw them down 1-0 going into the bottom of the third. Montanna Popp got things going for the Lakers with a leadoff double to right center. Sullwold follwed with a double of her own to left center to score Popp. Hein was then hit by a pitch before San Pedro hit her sixth homerun of the year over the centerfield fence to put the Lakers up 4-1.

The Lakers scored another run in the bottom of the fourth when Popp reached third base on a center fielder error. Sullwold hit her second double of the game to score Popp and put the Lakers up 5-1. Illinois Valley pushed three runs across in the fifth before the Lakers had another three run inning in the sixth. Hein, San Pedro, and Gerrard each singled before Davis hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score San Pedro. Gerrard then stole second base, advanced to third on a passed ball, and then took home when the pitcher did not cover.

Illinois Valley tried to string something together in the seventh, scoring three runs on four hits.

Ashton Kazmierski advanced to 4-2 on the year. She seven earned runs on eleven hits, three walks, and one strikeout. San Pedro was 2-3 with three runs batted in and two runs scored, while Sullwold was 2-4 with two runs batted in and one run scored.

The Lakers will play at Morningside College on Thursday, March 23rd at 3:00 and 5:00 PM.

Photo Credit: Cecil Ramsey Photography