Laker Softball Sweeps Ellsworth

Iowa Lakes Community College softball team outscored Ellsworth Community College 29-12 in 11 innings to complete the sweep. The Lakers had double digit hits in both games, ran the bases aggressively, and kept the Panther hitters in check during the games. The Lakers are now 14-20 overall and 5-9 in conference.

Game One: ILLC 15, ECC 6 (6 innings)

Iowa Lakes found themselves in an early deficit, as Ellsworth scored two runs in the first inning and one run in the second. They finally got things going in the bottom of the third with a leadoff walk from Lexi Pallisco. Leilani San Pedro drew a two out walk, to put runners at first and second. Kacie Salazar got her first two RBI's of the game with a single to right field to score both Pallisco and San Pedro to put the Lakers down 3-2.

Kaitlin Walsh started the bottom of the fourth with a leadoff walk, before she was sacrificed to second on a bunt off the bat of Gabby Heckard. Montanna Popp then drove a double off the left field fence to score Walsh, before she crossed the plate on a Julia Sullwold single up the middle to give the Lakers their first lead of the game. The scoring did not stop there, as Desiree Lopez's speed caused the Panthers to commit a fielding error. San Pedro drew her second walk of the day to load the bases. Salazar again singled, to bat in another two runs and put the Lakers up  6-3.

The top of the sixth saw Ellsworth score three runs. They did this on three hits and one Laker error. Pallisco quickly singled in the bottom of the sixth for the Lakers. Sullwold and Lopez both reached and a Panther error allowed Pallisco to score and Sullwold and Lopez to advance. San Pedro again reached on a walk to load the bases. San Pedro took a big lead, causing the Panthers to attempt to get her out, and some aggressive baserunning from Sullwold brought in another run. Kacie Salazar then put the ball over the left field fence to put the Lakers up 11-6. With the bases cleared, Yasmine Nix doubled to right before scoring on a Heckard single. Popp walked, before both runners advanced on a passed ball. Pallisco singled up the middle to score Heckard. Sullwold walked, before San Pedro ended the game due to the run rule with a single up the middle.

Kacie Salazar led the Lakers at the plate, going 3-5 with six runs batted in and one run score. Lexi Pallisco was 2-3 with a run batted in, two runs scored, and a walk, while Julia Sullwold was 2-4 with two runs scored and one run batted in. Yasmine Nix picked up the win for the Lakers, pitching six innings and allowing six runs, one earned. She did this by scattering nine hits, walking two, and striking out five.

Game Two: ILCC 14, ECC 6 (5 innings)

Ellsworth scored one run in the top of the inning, but the Lakers used their offensive momentum from game one to put up six runs in the first. Lopez hit a one out single before advancing to second when San Pedro was hit by a pitch. Salazar and Nix each drew a walk to score Lopez. San Pedro then scampered across the plate on a fielder's choice off the bat of Popp. Heckard hit a ball back up the middle to score Salazar and put the Lakers up 3-1. Kenlee Frank walked, before Pallisco singled to right field to make the score 6-1.

The Lakers again got things going in top of the second when San Pedro and Salazar each walked. Nix scored both runners on a double to left field. Popp walked before Nix was forced out on a fielder's choice off the bat of Heckard. Frank walked to load the bases before Popp scored on a fielder's choice from Pallisco.

With Iowa Lakes up 9-1, the Panthers got things rolling offensively in the third inning. They scored five runs on four hits and two walks.

The score remained 9-6 until the bottom  of the fourth. Heckard led off the inning with a double before advancing to third on a passed ball and eventually scoring on another passed ball.

The Lakers again walked off the Panthers due to the run rule in the bottom of the fifth. San Pedro led off the inning with a triple down the third base line. Salazar walked before Nix drove a ball to right field to score San Pedro and advance Salazar to third. Popp then grounded out to the second baseman to score Salazar and advance Nix to second. Heckard singled to right and stole second to put runners at second and third with Frank up to bat. Frank singled up the middle and with a beautiful slide by from Heckard, both runners scored to complete the 14-6 win.

Julia Sullwold picked up the win. She pitched 2.2 innings, allowing six earned runs on seven hits, three walks, and one strikeout. Yasmine Nix pitched the final 2.1 innings, allowing zero runs on three hits and striking out three. At the plate, Gabby Heckard was 3-4 with three runs scored and one run batted in. Yasmine Nix was 2-2 with four runs batted in and two runs scored. Both Kenlee Frank and Lexi Pallisco had three runs batted in, while Leilani San Pedro and Kacie Salazar each scored three runs in the game.

The Lakers will be playing this weekend against Kirkwood Community College on Sunday, April 22nd. Due the weather, the site of this game has not yet been determined.