The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team took two losses at the hands of the Spartans of Southwestern Community College. Game one saw a final score of 5-7 while game two saw a final of 0-8 in 5 innings. The Lakers move into a record of 15-9 on the season. 

GAME 1: 5 (ILCC), 7 (SWCC) 

            The top of the first inning saw a one-out double from Marrissa Miller, but she would remain on two for the last two outs of the half. The Spartans would also score none, as Macy Pickett would allow a single in the bottom of the first before forcing a pop-out and line out to end the inning. 

            Inning two would see a one-out line drive from Karlee Akers to reach base. She would also be left on base as the next two Lakers would strike out. Southwestern broke open their half of the inning, scoring two runs on three singles, a double, and a wild pitch. No more would score in the game until the top of the fourth. 

            In the top of the fourth, Korilynn Christians would come up to hit a one-out single to put a runner on, while Taylor Larson would come up with a monster ball to right field, hitting her eighth home run of the season. With the score being tied at two, Pickett would shut down the bottom half of the fourth, allowing no runs. 

            The Lakers would come back hard in the top of the fifth, seeing a leadoff bunt-for-a-hit from Myla Murphy. Murphy would steal second before Kaitlyn DuChateau would come up with a pop-fly to right that would be dropped. Murphy would score on the Spartan error and DuChateau would reach third. On an attempted throw to third, DuChateau would score on a throwing error, growing the Laker's lead to 4-2. Miller would continue the fight with a walk before Christians would come up big with a two-out double to center, scoring Miller and growing the lead to three runs. The Spartans would fight back, forcing a run across on a walk, error, and single. Elkins would come in to throw for the Lakers, allowing two more runs on a double to allow Southwestern to tie the game. 

            The Lakers would score none in the top of the sixth, but the bottom saw Southwestern take the lead on four singles. They scored two, making the score 5-7. Despite a two-out single in the top of the seventh from Miller, the Lakers were unable to make the full comeback. 

            Miller and Christians led the Laker offense, going 2-3 each, while Larson tallied two RBIs from her home run. Kassidy Elkins would take the loss for the Lakers, throwing 2.0 innings and allowing two earned runs on six hits while striking out one. Pickett threw 4.0 innings, allowing five runs, four earned runs, and eight hits while striking out one. 

GAME 2: 0 (ILCC), 8 (SWCC), 5 innings

            Game two was tough for the Lakers offensively, as they had no hits in the five innings played. Inning one was quiet for both teams, seeing no runners on in either half of the inning.  

            The top of the second inning would see a leadoff walk from Larson, but she would be left on base as the next three batters would be struck out. Southwestern came out hard in their half of the second, starting with a leadoff solo home run. Three singles would allow the Spartans to score two more runs before Larson would shut down their streak in the circle.

            The top of the third would see three Lakers up and three Lakers down, having no one reach base. The Spartans would once again strike with the leadoff reaching on a Laker error. A double would allow the leadoff runner to score, and a two-run home run would clear the bases and make the score 6-0. Macy Pickett would come in to throw for the Lakers, shutting down the next two of three batters.

            The fourth would again see three Lakers up and three Lakers down, as no one would reach base again. Southwestern would make their final effort of the game, scoring two more runs on a walk, two singles, a double, a fielder's choice, and a groundout. 

            Macy Pickett would start the seventh, reaching on a Spartan error. The next three Lakers would be shut down in order, completing the Southwestern run-rule in 5 innings. 

            The Lakers recorded no hits in game two, having only two reach base on a walk and a Spartan error. Taylor Larson would throw the loss for the Lakers, pitching 2.1 innings and allowing six runs on six hits. Pickett threw the remaining 1.2 innings, allowing three hits and two runs. 

            The Lakers return to action on Saturday as they travel to Columbus, NE, to take on Central Community College- Columbus and Highland Community College.