The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team split day one of their weekend trip against a #12-ranked Kirkwood. The Lakers had a close first game with the final score being 1-2 but broke open the gates in game two to end with a final score of 9-1. The split brings the Lakers to 26-17 overall for the season and 6-8 in conference.
GAME 1: 1 (ILCC), 2 (KCC)
Scoring for the Lakers started quickly as Kaitlyn DuChateau took the game's first pitch over the left-field fence. Taylor Larson had a two-out double to put a runner on, but she would be stranded there.
The Eagles fought back hard in their half of the first, starting with a lead-off Laker error to put one on. A one-out double allowed one to score and tie the game.
Abby Burgess would reach base on a walk in the top of the second, but that would be the only action for the Lakers in their half. Kirkwood scored one run in the bottom of the second on a solo home run, but they would be shut down after that.
Kirkwood put pressure on the Lakers in the bottom of the third, by loading the bases on two walks and a hit-by-pitch. Kassidy Elkins worked her way out of the sticky situation, forcing the next two hitters into a line-out and a pop-out to end the inning.
Burgess caught an Eagle attempting to steal in the bottom of the fourth for the first out of the inning. A Laker error allowed the next batter to reach first for the Eagles, but Elkins would sit down the second out of the inning. A flyout to Korilynn Christians would end the Eagles' pressure on the Laker's defense.
The Lakers kept fighting as they entered the top of the fifth, seeing a two-out infield single from Burgess. Myla Murphy kept the offense rolling with a bunt-for-a-hit to reach first and DuChateau followed with a walk to load the bases. Strong pitching for the Eagles was able to eliminate the Lakers' threat.
A final effort came from the Lakers in the seventh inning, as Burgess took a two-out walk. She would be the only Laker to reach base in the inning, as Kirkwood was able to finish the game with a one-run lead.
DuChateau led the game offensively for the Lakers, going 1-2 with an RBI and one walk. Burgess went 1-1 herself with two walks while Larson and Murphy also added hits for the Lakers. Macy Pickett threw 1.0 innings, allowing one hit and one run while striking out one. Kassidy Elkins took the hard-fought loss in the circle, throwing 6.0 innings, allowing only four hits, one run, and three walks while striking out four.
GAME 2: 9 (ILCC), 1 (KCC)
The Lakers jumped out hard in the top of the first, seeing a leadoff double from DuChateau. A single from Christians put runners on the corners with only one out. Christians stole second to put herself in scoring position, while Larson stepped up to the plate to hit a sacrifice fly to score DuChateau and advance Christians to third. An Eagle error allowed Akers to reach first and Christians to score, giving the Lakers an early 2-0 lead. Larson started hot in the circle for the Lakers, striking out the lead-off and forcing the next two into a ground-out and a fly-out.
Burgess took a hit-by-pitch to start the second inning and showcased her speed by stealing second three pitches later. Murphy had a single of her own that advanced Burgess to third, and a walk from DuChateau loaded the bases with no outs. Christians had a one-out infield single to score the lone run in the second inning. Larson kept up her performance in the circle, striking out one and forcing the next two Eagles into outs.
Alexis Cullinane had a double to right to lead off the third inning, and a two-out infield single from Murphy put one runner into scoring position. The defense for Kirkwood came up big with the third out, not allowing the Lakers to come across that inning.
The top of the fourth only saw one Laker reach base as Bailey Smith took her 19th hit-by-pitch of the season. Larson remained strong in the bottom of the fourth, only allowing one hit.
Cullinane tallied her second hit of the game in the top of the fifth while Burgess had a one-out walk to put another on the bases. The next two Lakers were shut down by the Eagles defense. Kirkwood scored their one run of the game in the bottom of the fifth on a double and a single.
Larson had a two-out walk in the top of the sixth and Akers ripped a double down left field line to score Larson from first. This gave the Lakers a 4-1 lead going into the last inning and a half of the game. Only two Eagles reached base in the bottom of the sixth, but the defense remained strong for the Lakers by finishing the inning without a run coming across.
The Lakers broke open the floodgates in the top of the seventh, starting with a lead-off walk from Brooklyn Bode. Burgess laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Bode into scoring position but a walk from Murphy put runners on first and second. With two outs, Smith took her 20th hit-by-pitch of the season to load the bases. Christians stepped up to the plate and ripped a grand slam home run to run the score up to 8-1 in favor of the Lakers. Larson kept the two-out rally going, smacking a double to reach base. Akers ripped another single into left field that allowed Larson to score the last run of the game for the Lakers.
Larson remained stoic in the circle for the Lakers, allowing one double before the defense got the third out behind her to end the game.
Christians led the offensive side for the Lakers, going 3-5 with five RBIs. Murphy went 2-3 in the game with one walk and Akers went 2-5 with two RBIs. Three other Lakers added hits for the Lakers in the 9-1 win. Taylor Larson pitched the full 7.0 innings, earning her the win. She allowed eight hits and only one run while striking out four.
The Lakers finish up their weekend against Ellsworth tomorrow with games scheduled for 12 & 2 pm.