The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team combined for 35 runs in two games to continue their six-game winning streak. The Lakers took down New College University JV 15-5 in five innings and then Erie Community College 20-0 in five innings. The Lakers advance to 12-6 on the season.
GAME 1: 15 (ILCC), 5 (NCJV) 5 innings
Iowa Lakes' strong-powered offense continued to roll in game one. Marrissa Miller reached on a New College error to get the Lakers going in the first. Macy Pickett followed with a single and then a second error of the inning allowed Miller to score and Pickett to advance to third. Korilynn Christians hit into a fielder's choice, which resulted in the third straight error of the inning to put runners at second and third. Taylor Larson hit a hard ground ball down the line to score Pickett and put the Lakers up 3-0. A Bailey Smith walk loaded the bases before Alexis Cullinane hit a ball to the fence that was misplayed to score Christians and Larson. Myla Murphy then perfectly placed a bunt to load the bases once again. Kaitlyn DuChateau delivered a two-out double to clear the bases and put the Lakers up 7-0 after the top of the first. The Mighty Banyans took advantage of some sloppy defense from the Lakers to score two runs in their half of the first.
New College was able to take advantage of a leadoff Laker error again. They doubled and hit a two-out single to make the score 7-4.
The Lakers' offense got back on track in the third, scoring four in the inning. Cullinane led off the inning with a single. She then stole second and advanced to third on a Kassidy Elkins single to left. A wild pitch allowed Cullinane to score and Elkins to scoot to third. DuChateau stepped into the box and extended the Lakers lead with a single up the middle. She then put herself in scoring position with a stolen base and came around to score on a Miller single to center. The Lakers continued with their aggressive baserunning, stealing second, which paid off because Christians doubled to give the Lakers an 11-4 lead. The Mighty Banyans were able to sneak a run back in the bottom of the third. They did this on two singles, a groundout, and a sacrifice fly. Larson was able to end the threat with a groundout to Smith.
The fourth saw Smith lead by getting hit by a pitch. A walk to Cullinane and an Abby Burgess hit by pitch loaded up the bases. A fielder's choice off the bat of DuChateau brought up Miller with the bases still loaded and two outs. A wild pitch during the at-bat allowed all the runners to advance sixty feet before Miller delivered a triple down the right-field line to put the Lakers up 14-5.
Iowa Lakes would score their final run of the game in the top fifth. Larson would draw a one-out walk. Smith would follow with a double before all runners would be safe on a Cullinane fielder's choice to load the bases. Burgess would draw a walk to push Larson across the plate. With the Lakers up 15-5, Larson would shut down the Mighty Banyans in order in the bottom of the fifth to complete the run-rule win.
Taylor Larson picked up her sixth win of the season, throwing the complete five innings. She allowed five runs, one earned, on five hits and no walks, while striking out four. At the plate, Kaitlyn DuChateau continued to lead the Lakers. She had two hits in the game with four runs batted in. Marrissa Miller was right behind her with two hits of her own and three runs batted in. The Lakers stole eight bases in the contest.
GAME 2: 20 (LLCC), 0 (ECC) 5 innings
DuChateau stepped in and drove the first pitch she saw over the center field fence to give the Lakers the early 1-0 lead.
Iowa Lakes was able to break things open in the second, scoring eleven runs in the second inning. A single from Larson got things started. She then stole second and third and scored on a passed ball. Smith drew a walk and advanced to second on an Erie error off the bat of Cullinane. Both runners then advanced by swiping a base. Two Laker outs brought them back to the top of the order with Murphy and Cullinane still in scoring position. DuChateau singled to left, scoring both runners and allowing herself to get to third on the play at home. DuChateau scampered home on another Erie error off the bat of Burgess. With Burgess on second, Pickett stepped in and doubled to put the Lakers up 6-0. Iowa Lakes took advantage of the third Kats error in the inning to score Pickett and advance Christians to third. Larson followed with a triple and Murphy walked to put runners on the corners. Murphy stole second and both runners came around to score on Cullinane's single to left. The final two runs of the inning were scored on singles from Karlee Akers, Brooklyn Bode, and DuChateau.
Pickett kept the offense going in the bottom of the third when she led off with a single. Christians doubled, putting two runs in scoring position. Larson scored Christians on the next at-bat with a sacrifice fly to center. A single from Cullinane scored Christians before Cullinane advanced to second on a passed ball and then scored on Akers' double down the line.
With the Lakers now up 15-0 in the bottom of the fourth, they extended their lead by putting five runs on the board. Back-to-back singles from Elkins and Morgan Kolodzienski led off the inning. Elkins then came around to score on Christians' single, advancing Kolodzienski to second. She then scored on a single from Larson and Murphy loaded the bases with a single of her own. Singles from Cullinane and Akers brought two more Lakers runs across the plate before Murphy scored the final run of the game on a Bode sacrifice fly.
Erie tried to make a comeback in the top of the fifth, loading the bases with three singles. Pickett got the final out of the game on a strikeout to complete the 20-0 five-inning win.
Kaitlyn DuChateau continued her strong hitting, going 3-3 with four runs batted in and two runs scored. Alexis Cullinane and Karlee Akers were each 3-4 with three runs batted in and Taylor Larson also had three hits and three runs batted in. Macy Pickett picked up her second win in twenty-four hours, pitching the complete five-inning shutout. She scattered seven hits while walking two and striking out five.
The Lakers will get a day off, before playing their final games in Florida. Thursday, March 13th, will see the Lakers take on Illinois Valley Community College at 9:00 AM (EST) and then Triton College at 11:15 AM (EST).