Iowa Lakes Community College split today against Southeast Community College. The Lakers racked up 20 hits in five innings to beat the Storm 18-6 in game one. The Lakers could not keep their hot hitting going in game two, as they fell 5-4.
The Lakers jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, complements of Taylor Allen, Annjelica Moreno-Englebrecht, and Kacie Salazar's doubles.
The score remained this way until the top of the third. Moreno-Englebrecht was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a Salazar single. Nix singled to center to score Moreno-Englebrecht and put the Lakers up 3-0. Gabby Heckard continued her hot hitting, driving a ball over the right field fence to give the Lakers a 6-0 lead. Autumn Phelps continued the inning, driving a ball to left field for a double. Priscilla Lozoya reached on a Storm error, before Madisyn Arechederra singled to load the bases. Allen doubled to left to score two, before she and Arechederra scored on a Moreno-Englebrecht double. Nix's second single of the inning, scored Moreno-Englebrecht and put the Lakers up 11-0. A Heckard single and Phelps competed the ten run inning, making the score 12-0.
The Storm got four runs back in their half of the inning on four hits, one walk, and one hit by pitch.
Iowa Lakes quickly responded, scoring three runs in the top of the fourth. A one out walk by Arechederra brought up Allen. Arechederra stole second and advanced to third on a Strom error. Allen then singled to center and stole second as well. A Moreno-Englebrecht single put runners on the corner. Lexus Gorospe singled to right which scored Allen and advanced Moreno-Englebrecht to third. Another Heckard double drove in her fourth run of the game.
Southeast Community College tried to mount a comeback in the bottom of the fourth, when they scored two runs on one walk, one hit by pitch, one hit, and one Laker error.
Tianna Soto go things started in the top of the fifth, when she drew a leadoff walk. She then advanced to third on an error off the bat of Lozoya. Soto and Lozoya both scored on back to back singles from Arechederra and Allen to put the Lakers up 18-6. Gorospe shut Southeast down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning to complete the five inning win.
Yasmine Nix picked up the win for the Lakers, allowing four earned runs on five hits and one walk, while striking out two. Lexus Gorospe allowed two runs, one earned, on one hit, one walk and three hit by pitches, while striking out two. Taylor Allen was 4-5 at the plate with two doubles, three runs scored, four runs batted in, and two stolen bases. Gabby Heckard was 3-4 with a double and a homerun. She drove in four runs and crossed the plate one time herself. Annjelica Moreno-Englebrecht was 3-4 with two doubles, four runs scored, and two runs batted in.
Game two was a different offensive story for the Lakers. They scored just four runs on nine hits and committed one error.
The Lakers could not get any offense going until the top of the third when Lozoya leadoff with a walk and came around on an Allen homerun. With two outs, back to back to back singles by Heckard, Salazar, and Gorospe put the Lakers up 3-0.
Southeast got their first run of the game on a one out homerun in the bottom of the fourth.
The Lakers got that run back in top of the fifth when Moreno-Englebrecht leadoff the inning with a double. Heckard hit a ground ball to the first baseman that advanced Moreno-Englebrecht to third before she scored on a single up the middle by Salazar.
Iowa Lakes gave up one run in the bottom of the fifth when they allowed the Storm to reach on a fielding error. A single and ground ball to the pitcher put runners at second and third with one out. A sacrifice fly to right field brought Southeast to within two runs of the Lakers. Isabelle Karr got out of the inning by forcing a groundball out to Phelps at third.
The Storm scored another run in the bottom of the sixth on three hits and a sacrifice fly to left field. Southeast scored their final two runs on a walk off homerun to hand the Lakers their first loss in four games.
Yasmine Nix took the loss of the Lakers. She allowed one run on one hit. Annjelica Moreno-Englebrecht pitched four innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits and struck out three, while Isabelle Karr pitched two innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits and two walks. Lexus Gorospe was 2-3 with one run batted in, while Taylor Allen and Kacie Salazar were each 2-4.
The Lakers will be back in action tomorrow, taking on Division 1 Iowa Western Community College. Games are scheduled for 2:00 and 4:00 PM.
Photography By: Cecil Ramsey