On day two of their weekend travels, the Iowa Lakes Community College softball team lost two games against a #21-ranked NIACC. Game one ended in a score of 2-3 after nine innings of play, and game two saw a score of 0-7 after seven innings. This brings the Lakers to 28-23 overall for the season and 8-14 in conference.

GAME 1: 2 (ILCC), 3 (NIACC), 9 innings

             Game one saw a quick jump for the Lakers, with Kaitlyn DuChateau ripping a lead-off home run over the center field fence. Korilynn Christians legged out a bunt for a hit with one out and stole second with two outs, but didn't advance farther than that. 

            Pickett started in the circle for the Lakers, forcing a ground out from the lead-off batter. The second Trojan hitter drove a double into right-center, and the third hitter followed with a walk. Pickett retired the four-hitter and forced the fifth into a strikeout. 

            Abby Burgess started the top of the second with a two-out hit-by-pitch, and Myla Murphy followed with an infield single on a bunt-for-a-hit. 

            Burgess was able to gun down a runner attempting to steal third in the bottom of the second before the third out of the inning lined out to Bailey Smith at third. 

            Murphy led off the top of the fifth with an infield single and stole second with one out, but she was stranded there. 

Each side played strong defense to hold the score in favor of the Lakers. The Trojans threatened to score in the bottom of the sixth with a lead-off error by the Lakers, followed by a single. A two-out walk loaded the bases, but Pickett retired the side by striking out her third of the game. 

            Despite a one-out single from Burgess in the seventh, the Lakers were unable to break through the Trojans' defense.

            NIACC was able to fight back in their half of the seventh with a solo home run to tie the game back up and force extra innings. 

            Christians came up big in the top of the eighth with a solo home run to give the Lakers a one-run lead once again. The Trojans' pitching was able to sit down the next two Lakers. 

            A lead-off single in the top of the eighth for the Trojans put one on before a sacrifice bunt moved her to second. They were able to rope a single to left field that allowed the leadoff to score and tie the game back up. NIACC continued their fight by driving a two-out single and taking a hit-by-pitch to load the bases, but a fly out ended the inning. 

            The top of the ninth was quiet on the Lakers' side, seeing only a two-out walk from Burgess. The Trojans were able to capitalize in their half with a lead-off walk followed by a sacrifice bunt. A passed ball allowed the runner to advance to third before a sacrifice fly scored the walk-off run. 

            Christians and Murphy led the offensive side for the Lakers, going 2-4. Karlee Akers, DuChateau, and Burgess added hits for the Lakers while Christians and DuChateau tallied one run and one RBI each on their solo home runs. Pickett threw all 8.2 innings of the game, allowing eight hits, three runs, two earned, and six walks while striking out five. 

GAME 2: 0 (ILCC), 7 (NIACC)

            Akers led off the offense for the Lakers with a one-out single to left field. She was stranded there as the next two were shut down by NIACC's defense. The Trojans started the scoring quickly with a lead-off home run to give themselves the lead. 

            The Lakers threatened in the top of the second, starting with a one-out single to left field from Brooklyn Bode. Bode was able to steal second before Marrissa Miller drove a single of her own to advance her to third. Burgess took a walk to load the bases with one out for the Lakers, but the Trojans remained strong defensively to eliminate the threat without a run coming across. 

            NIACC scored one more in the second on a double and three singles to give themselves a 2-0 lead. 

            The third was quiet for both teams, and the top of the fourth was uneventful for the Lakers as well. The Trojans were able to score another one in the bottom of the fourth on a single, a sacrifice bunt, and another single. 

            Murphy had her third single of the day to lead off the fifth inning with one out, and her speed allowed her to steal second. The Lakers were unable to bring her home, though. NIACC continued to score in the bottom of the fifth, scoring one run on two singles and a sacrifice fly. 

            The Trojans scored three more in their half of the sixth inning. The Lakers didn't have an answer for the Trojans' bats in the top of the seventh, finishing the game 7-0 in favor of NIACC. 

            Akers, Bode, Miller, and Murphy tallied the only four hits for the Lakers while Burgess reached base twice with walks. Taylor Larson took the loss in the circle for the Lakers, throwing 5.0 innings, allowing nine hits, four runs, three earned, and one walk while striking out one. Morgan Fine came in to throw 0.2 innings for the Lakers, allowing two hits, three runs, and three walks while striking out one. Kassidy Elkins finished the remaining 0.1 innings, allowing one walk. 

            The Lakers return home to play their final six regular-season games this coming week. The Lakers play Ellsworth this Wednesday at 2 & 4 pm before taking on Iowa Central and DMACC on the weekend.