San Pedro's Three Homerun Day Earns a Split

Leilani San Pedro batted .500 on the day, driving in ten runs, scoring four times, and hitting three homeruns in the Lakers split Thursday with Northeast Community College. Yasmine Nix took the 4-2 loss in game one, while Bibiana Rosales picked up the 16-9 win in game two. The Lakers are now 11-15 overall and 2-4 in conference.

Game One: NECC 4, ILCC 2

Both teams remained scoreless, until Northeast scored three runs in the top of the third. They did this on three hits, including one homerun.

Iowa Lakes quickly responded in the top of the fourth with two runs of their own. Desiree Lopez singled up the middle, before San Pedro drove her first ball over the fence to bring the Lakers within one run.

The Lakers loaded up the bases in the top of the fifth, but the Hawks pitcher got Kacie Salazar to line out to the left fielder. Northeast used this momentum to score another run in the bottom half of the fifth on two hits and one walk. This was the final run of the game scored by either team.

Yasmine Nix allowed four earned runs on seven hits and one walk, while striking out one. Desiree Lopez was 2-4 with one run scored, while Leilani San Pedro was 1-3 with a homerun and two runs batted in.

Game Two: ILCC 16, NECC 9

The Lakers quickly scored in game two with three runs in the top of the first. Julia Sullwold led off the game with a single. She then stole second before advancing to third on a single by Lopez. San Pedro then hit her second homerun of the day over the centerfield fence to put the Lakers up 3-0. Northeast quickly loaded up the bases with two walks and a single before Lopez and San Pedro turned a double play, which scored one. Rosales got the next batter to pop out to San Pedro to end the inning.

The Hawks tied the score at three in the bottom of the third. They did this on three hits, one walk, and one hit batter.

Iowa Lakes put together a big inning in the top of the fourth, as they scored eight runs. Kenlee Frank led off with a single before Gabby Heckard homered over the left field fence. Emily Owen followed with a walk, before both runners advanced on a fielder's choice. Sullwold singled to load the bases, before Owen was forced out at home on a Lopez fielder's choice. San Pedro then doubled to right center to score both Pallisco and Sullwold. Lopez and San Pedro quickly crossed the plate as well with a single off the bat of Kaitlin Walsh. Kacie Salazar then stroked a ball over the right center fence to put the Lakers up 11-3. Northeast scored four runs in the bottom half of their inning on three hits and two walks.

Northeast scored another run in the bottom of the fifth on a walk, Laker error, and a double. The Hawks again scored in the bottom of the sixth on a homerun to put them within two runs of the Lakers.

Frank led off the seventh inning with a single, before advancing to third on a Heckard double off the right center fence. Montanna Popp loaded up the bases with a walk, before Lexi Pallisco hit a sacrifice fly to score Frank and advance the other two runners. Sullwold then singled to left to put the Lakers up 13-9. With two runners on, San Pedro drove her final homerun of the day over the centerfield fence to complete the 16-9 Laker victory. Yasmine Nix walked a batter, but Nix and San Pedro turned another double play to end the game.

Bibiana Rosales pitched 3.1 innings, allowing seven earned runs on seven hits and five walks. Yasmine Nix pitched 3.2 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits, two walks, and striking out three. San Pedro was 3-5 with two homeruns, one double, eight runs batted in, and three runs scored. Julia Sullwold was 3-4 with three runs scored, while Gabby Heckard and Kacie Salazar each homered in the game.

The Lakers will travel to take on Kirkwood Community College on Saturday, April 7th, at 1:00 and 3:00 PM.

Photography by Cecil Ramsey