The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team earned two big wins over the #6 ranked DMACC Bears. The Lakers won 6-5 on a walk-off single in game one and then won game two 7-6. The Lakers are now19-9 overall and 6-6 in conference.
GAME 1: 6 (ILCC), 5 (DMACC)
The Bears were able to get on the scoreboard first with a solo homerun in the first inning. The Lakers quickly countered with two runs in their half of the inning. Alyssa Thorson led off with a single and then scored on Bryn Bohmann's first homerun of the day.
With the Lakers up 2-1, they added to their led in the third. Kiaya Dunbar led off the inning with a double in the right center gap and then scored on Thorson's single. Thorson again got to trot around the bases, when MacKenna Jones homered to center to give the Lakers a 5-1 lead.
DMACC was able to get one run back in the fourth on a double, walk, and single.
The game remained 5-2 until the seventh when the Bears were able to score three runs to tie the game. They did this on one walk and three hits. Iowa Lakes threatened in the bottom of the seventh, when Dunbar hit a one out single. She then advanced to third on a Bohmann double, before DMACC was able to get the final out of the inning on a groundball.
Dunbar was the spark plug again in the bottom of the ninth, when she drew a one out walk. She came around to score on a double to right center by Thorson to walk-off the Bears.
Alyssa Thorson was 3-4 with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Kiaya Dunbar was 2-3 with a walk and two runs scored. MacKenna Jones picked up the win, allowing five earned runs in nine innings on six hits and five walks. Jones struck out ten batters in the game.
GAME 2: 7 (ILCC), 6 (DMACC)
Iowa Lakes was able to score first in game two, when Thorson led off with a walk. She then stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice fly from Bohmann. Jones hit into a fielder's choice that forced Thorson out, but Thorson stayed in the rundown long enough to allow Jones to advance to third. With two outs, Paige Grafton delivered a single up the middle to put Iowa Lakes on the board.
The Bears tied up the game the next chance they got with a leadoff homerun. DMACC took the lead in the third on another solo homerun. The Lakers countered with two homeruns of their own off the bats of Dunbar and Bohmann to give themselves a 3-2 lead.
DMACC was able to tie the game back up in the fifth when they got a two out double. A Laker error allowed the run to cross the plate, before O'Donnell got the final out to fly out to Brielle Bartelt in left.
Thorson picked up a one out single in the fifth to get the rally started. She then stole second and Bohmann walked. Both runners then stole a base to put runners at second and third with one out. Jones stepped up and hit a single off the right field fence to score both runners. Abby Zahn then entered the game to run for Jones and advanced to second on a Grafton walk. Karisa Hernandez was able to find a hole in the Bears defense to load up the bases for O'Donnell. She delivered a single to center to score two runners and give the Lakers the 7-3 lead.
O'Donnell walked the first two batters of the seventh to give the Bears some life. Jones entered the game for the Lakers in the circle and gave up a three run homerun. With the bases cleared and DMACC down just one run, the Lakers buckled down. The first two outs of the inning came on popouts to Hernandez and Bohmann. With DMACC down to their final out, Jones attacked the hitter, throwing three straight strikes to record the final strikeout of the game.
Iowa Lakes scattered seven hits, with multiple athletes contributing to the win. MacKenna Jones and Baylee O'Donnell each had two runs batted in, while Alyssa Thorson stole three bases. Baylee O'Donnell picked up the win, pitching six innings. She allowed five runs, four earned, on five hits and eight walks. MacKenna Jones recorded the save, pitching one inning. She allowed one run on one hit with one strikeout.
The Lakers will hit the road again to take on Central Community College on Wednesday. Game times will be 2:00 and 4:00 PM.
Photo ID: Picture of Kiaya Dunbar sliding safely into home.
MEDIA: For more information, please contact Head Softball Coach, Katie King at (712) 362-8367 or the Iowa Lakes sports information office at (712) 362-7928.
Photography: Cecil Ramsey Photography