The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team split in their midweek contest against the Hawks of Northeast Community College. The Lakers took game one with a final score of 1-0 while the Hawks came up big in the seventh inning of game two, taking it 11-8. This brings the Lakers to 28-19 overall for the season and 8-10 in conference.
GAME 1: 1 (ILCC), 0 (NECC)
Macy Pickett started hot in the circle for the Lakers, sitting down three of the first four batters. In the bottom of the first, Marrissa Miller took a one-out walk for the Lakers and stole second but was stranded there.
Pickett struck out the leadoff hitter for the Hawks in the top of the second, but they came back with a single then a walk. The Lakers' defense was able to stay strong for out number two, and Pickett would retire the third with a strike out.
Alexis Cullinane stepped up to the plate with one out in the bottom of the second and ripped a single into left field. With two outs, Abby Burgess was awarded a walk to put two Lakers on. Myla Murphy was able to leg out a bunt and an error by the Hawks allowed Cullinane to scamper home for the Lakers one run of the game.
Pickett recorded one strikeout in both the third and fourth innings, while defense was able to rally behind her for the other four outs.
Brooklyn Bode reached base in the fourth on a two-out walk, but was stranded there as out number three came too quickly.
The next hit for the Lakers would come in the bottom of the sixth, as Taylor Larson was able to poke a single back up the middle. She showcased her speed by stealing second but was unable to move up any farther than that.
The Hawks fought back in the top of the seventh with a leadoff single and another batter reaching on a Laker error. Pickett remained strong, forcing out number two into a fielder's choice, and a mishap for the Hawks on the bases allowed the Lakers to finish the game 1-0.
The Lakers' offense was led by Myla Murphy going 1-2. Cullinane and Larson each tallied a hit for the Lakers. Three Lakers took walks to reach base as well. Macy Pickett threw the shut out, throwing all 7.0 innings. She allowed just four hits and two walks while striking out seven.
GAME 2: 8 (ILCC), 11 (NECC)
Northeast came out fighting in game two, talking advantage of two walks and two Laker's errors to score one. The next run came for the Hawks on a sacrifice fly, but outs two and three were forced at the hand of Larson in the circle who struck out one.
Offense started quiet for the Lakers, seeing only one batter reach base on an error by Northeast.
The Hawks continued their rally in the top of the second, two runners would reach base before a throwing error from the Lakers allowed two to score. A Hawk's single allowed the fifth run to cross for Northeast. They would score another three in the top of the third.
The Lakers' bats came to life in the bottom of the third with Burgess reaching on a Hawk error and Murphy showcasing her speed by running out a bunt. Burgess was able to reach third on Murphy's bunt, putting herself in scoring position with no outs. Duchateau drove a ball up the middle to allow Burgess and Murphy to score. Miller took advantage of another Hawk error to reach second and push DuChateau to third. One would score on a ground ball from Christians, giving her an RBI. Despite the heavy wind gusts, Larson was able to rope a line drive over left field's fence for her 20th home run of the season. Karlee Akers kept the rally alive with a single up the middle and Cullinane took a walk. Bode drove a ground ball to the short stop, forcing an error that allowed her to reach first and two to come across, shortening the deficit to one run.
Kassidy Elkins threw a tough fourth inning, forcing the first two batters to fly out and striking out the third.
DuChateau had her second hit of the game, lining a ball to left field for a single. She was able to steal second and reach third on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly from Christians allowed her to come home to tie the game.
Elkins remained strong in the fifth, forcing a fly out and line out while striking out the third.
The bottom of the fifth looked promising for the Lakers as Cullinane had a one-out single to start them off. Bode took a walk and a bunt from Burgess loaded the bases with just one out. Northeast pitching and defense were able to remain strong, eliminating the threat from the Lakers.
Larson had a two-out single in the bottom of the sixth, but she was unable to go any farther.
Northeast was able to break open the top of the seventh with a leadoff double followed by a single. A double was able to score two, and they scored their last tagging up from third.
The Lakers were unable to come back from the three-run deficit, as they went three-up, three-down in their half of the seventh.
DuChateau and Larson went 2-4 with 2 RBIs each in game two, leading the offense. Akers, Cullinane, Burgess, and Murphy all tallied one hit each. Christians and Bode each added two RBIs to round off the offense. Larson threw 2.0 innings in the contest, allowing two hits, five runs, zero earned, and two walks while striking out two. Elkins threw the middle 4.0 innings, allowing six hits, five runs, three earned, and three walks while striking out three. Morgan Fine finished the game in the circle, throwing 1.0 innings, allowing one hit and one run.
The Lakers hit the road this weekend, starting with Iowa Central this Friday at 2 & 4 pm. They continue to North Iowa Area Community College on Saturday, with games scheduled for 1 & 3 pm.