Lakers Get Out The Brooms

Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team continued their hot play at home with two wins over conference foe, North Iowa Area Community College. They took game one 11-3 in five innings and game two 12-11, thanks to a walk off single from Kaitlin Walsh. The Lakers are now 19-23 overall and 9-11 in conference.

Game One: ILCC 11, NIACC 3 (5 innings)

The Trojans got themselves on the scoreboard first, scoring on a solo homerun in the top of the second. Kacie Salazar quickly responded in the bottom of the second with a leadoff homerun of her own. Walsh and Yasmine Nix both walked before both runners advanced on a shot off the bat of Kenlee Frank. With bases loaded, Lexi Pallisco was hit by a pitch to give the Lakers their first lead of the game. Julia Sullwold then scored Nix on a ground ball to the third basemen to put the Lakers up 3-1.

The Lakers put a little two out rally together in the third to score three more runs. Walsh again walked before scoring on a single from Nix. Frank then hit her second homerun of the year to put the Lakers up 6-1.

NIACC scored their final two runs of the game in the top of the fifth inning on four singles. Iowa Lakes buckled down offensively and won the game in the bottom of the fifth. Nix walked, Frank singled, and both advanced on a passed ball. Emily Owen then hit a single up the middle to score both runners. Owen advanced to third on a Gabby Heckard single, who got caught running trying to stretch the hit into a double. Sullwold reached on a Trojan error before Lopez walked to load the bases. Leilani San Pedro pushed Owen across the plate to put the Lakers up 9-3. San Pedro then stole second and advanced to third on a Trojan error, which allowed Sullwold to cross the plate as well. Salazar brought in the final run of the game on a single back up the middle.

Yasmine Nix went the distance for the Lakers, allowing three runs on ten hits, one walk, and striking out three. Kenlee Frank was the leader at the plate for the Lakers. She was 2-3 with two runs batted in, two runs scored, and a homerun. Kacie Salazar was 2-4 with two runs batted in, one run scored, and a homerun.

Game Two: ILCC 12, NIACC 11

NIACC took the early lead in game two, scoring one run. A leadoff error, stolen base, and passed ball put a Trojan runner at third with nobody out. She was brought home on a groundout to Lopez. Sullwold hit the next batter, before getting the next two batters to groundout to Salazar and Pallisco. The Trojans scored another run in the top of the second on a leadoff walk and two singles.

The Lakers finally put themselves on the board in the bottom of the second. Walsh took a one out walk, before advancing on a Nix single down the left field line. The left fielder then bobbled the ball, which allowed both runners to move up a base. Frank brought Walsh home on a single deep in the 5/6 hole. With two outs and runners at second and third, Heckard singled up the middle to tie the game up. Sullwold put the Lakers in the lead with a single to third base to score Frank.

The Trojans quickly took the lead back in the top of the third. They did this on two hits and two walks. San Pedro led off the bottom of the third with a solo homerun to tie the game back up. Salazar then walked before stealing second base. Nix walked before Frank scored Salazar on a single to left to put the Lakers up  5-4.

NIACC tied the game back up with a solo homerun in the top of the fifth. Walsh quickly responded in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff single. Frank singled down the line before Owen loaded the bases on a ground ball. Heckard then singled up the middle to score Walsh and Frank and put the Lakers back on top 7-5.

Things started to fall apart for the Lakers in the top of the sixth, as they saw NIACC take a 11-7 lead. They did this on six hits, one walk, and one hit batter. Iowa Lakes put up a fight in their half of the inning, when Salazar hit a one out double off the right field fence. With two outs, Nix sent a ball over the left field fence to bring the Lakers within two.

Naomi Tolmachoff got the Trojans to go down quickly in the top of the seventh, before Iowa Lakes completed the bottom of the seventh win. With their backs against the wall, the Lakers quickly got two runners on with a Owen hit by pitch and a Heckard walk. With a full count, Sullwold then drove a double to left center to score Heckard and put runners at second and third with nobody out. Lopez walked, before Heckard was forced out on a ground ball to the shortstop. Salazar tied the game up with a single to left to bring up Walsh with one out. Walsh proceeded to drive in the winning run on a single to left field to complete the come from behind victory.

Naomi Tolmachoff picked up the win for the Lakers. She pitched 1.1 innings, allowing no runs and one hit. Yasmine Nix pitched 3.1 innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits and striking out two. Julia Sullwold pitched 2.1 innings, allowing four runs on four hits and walking three. Offensively, Kenlee Frank again led the Lakers, going 3-4 with two runs batted in and two runs scored. Yasmine Nix was 2-3 with two runs batted in and two runs scored. Julia Sullwold, Kacie Salazar, Kaitlin Walsh, and Gabby Heckard each had two hits in the game.

The Lakers will again be at home Saturday, April 28th, at 1:00 and 3:00 PM to take on #1 Des Moines Area Community College.

Photography by Cecil Ramsey