The #20 Iowa Lakes softball team got strong performances out of each of their pitchers to complete the two game sweep over Ellsworth Community College Sunday afternoon. Courtney Calkins (17-4) picked up the 6-0 win in game one, while Ashton Kazmierski (14-8) picked up the 5-0 game two win. The Lakers hold a 33-14 overall record and a 18-10 conference record. Iowa Lakes earned the three seed for the conference tournament that will begin Friday.
Game One: ILCC 6, ECC 0
The Lakers grabbed the lead early when Julia Sullwold led off with a double and Lauren Hein walked. Both runners then stole a base to put runners at second and third. Deanna Gerrard hit Sullwold home on a groundout to second base.
In the bottom of the second, Montanna Popp hit a two out homerun to put the Lakers up 2-0. Kaitlin Walsh followed with a single and advanced on a passed ball. Sullwold then singled to short and Walsh scored when the shortstop bobbled the ball to put the Lakers up 3-0.
Iowa Lakes continued to put runs up, when they led off the bottom of the third with a homerun from Leilani San Pedro. Gerrard singled and stole second, before coming home on a single from Calkins.
The Lakers put up their final run of the game in the bottom of the fifth. Gerrard doubled and scored from second on a Panther error. Gerrard's run put the Lakers up 6-0.
Courtney Calkins pitched the first shutout of the day, allowing four hits, while striking out six. Deanna Gerrard led the Lakers at the plate going 2-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Julia Sullwold was 2-4 with a double and stolen base.
Game Two: ILCC 5, ECC 0
The Lakers again got on the board first, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first. Sullwold and Hein led off the game with a walk and advanced on a groundout from San Pedro. Gerrard walked, before Sullwold scored on a groundout from Shelby Davis. Hein scored the second run of the inning on a Panther passed ball to put the Lakers up 2-0.
Popp took a one out walk in the bottom of the second to get things going for Iowa Lakes again. Popp then stole second base and advanced to third on a single from Sullwold. Popp crossed the plate on another Ellsworth passed ball to make the score 3-0.
Sullwold led off the bottom of the fifth getting hit by a pitch. She then stole second and scored on a San Pedro single to right field. The Lakers scored their final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth. Davis led off with a single and advanced on a groundout from Calkins. Markman then drove a ball to right center to score Davis and put the Lakers up 5-0.
Ashton Kazmierski pitched the second shutout of the day, allowing three hits, while striking out three Panthers. Offensively, Leilani San Pedro was 2-3 and Julia Sullwold was 1-1 with two runs scored and two stolen bases.
The Lakers will be closing out the regular season with a doubleheader against division 1, Marshalltown Community College on Tuesday, April 25th, at 3:00 & 5:00 PM. The team has decided to dedicate this game to cancer awareness. They will be selling T-shirts for $15, the Iowa Lakes Relay for Life team will be selling bracelets for $3, and the Iowa Lakes food service will be serving a meal for $5, hamburgers/ hot dogs, chips, beans, bar, and drink. All proceeds will be donated to cancer research.