The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team took two wins against the Ellsworth Panthers in their midweek contest. The Lakers finished game one with a final score of 8-0 in 5 innings and took game two 7-4. This brings the Lakers to 30-23 overall for the season and 10-14 in conference.
GAME 1: 8 (ILCC), 0 (ECC), 5 innings
Macy Pickett started strong in the circle for the Lakers, forcing the top three of the Panthers' lineup into groundouts.
Taylor Larson started the offense for the Lakers, taking a two-out walk in the bottom of the first inning. She showcased her speed by stealing her 18th base of the season, before Pickett drove a single into left field to score her. Karlee Akers continued the two-out rally for the Lakers by taking a hit-by-pitch, but both runners for the Lakers would be left on base.
Pickett kept the defense on lock, forcing the fourth, fifth, and sixth batters of Ellsworth's lineup into outs.
Marrissa Miller started off the bottom of the second with a walk for the Lakers before Abby Burgess was able to advance her and reach base on a Panther error. A fielder's choice caught Miller at third for the first out, but Burgess and Myla Murphy would showcase their speed completing a double steal to advance to third and second, respectively. Kaitlyn DuChateau tallied an RBI by hitting a fly ball to the second baseman that allowed Burgess to tag up on. Korilynn Christians, Larson, and Pickett took three consecutive walks that scored one for the Lakers. Akers came up with a two-out single to left that scored another, putting the Lakers up 5-0.
The Lakers' defense remained flawless in the top of the third inning for two outs while Pickett recorded her only strikeout of the game.
Burgess got things started for the Lakers with a walk in the bottom of the third. Murphy legged out an infield single that advanced Burgess to second and DuChateau took a walk to load the bases. Christians drove a ground ball that allowed Burgess to score and a Panther error on a Larson ground ball allowed another to cross the plate. Pickett grounded out to the first baseman, but still recorded an RBI as DuChateau was able to score for the Lakers' eighth run of the game.
Defense for the Lakers held things down in the top of the fourth allowing no one on base.
The only Laker to reach base in the bottom of the fourth for the Lakers was Burgess. She took a walk and two pitches later, recorded her 23rd stolen base of the season before the Panthers were able to record the third out.
The Lakers were able to shut down the Panthers by recording the final three outs of the game on a pop-up and two fly-outs.
Pickett and Akers led the offense, going 1-2 each with five RBIs combined. DuChateau, Christians, and Larson each recorded one RBI, and Myla Murphy tallied one hit for the Lakers. Pickett threw the first perfect game of her collegiate career, throwing all 5.0 innings and striking out one.
GAME 2: 7 (ILCC), 4 (ECC)
The Panthers jumped out hard in the top of the first, scoring one run on a Laker error, a hit-by-pitch, and a single.
The Lakers fought back in their half of the first with Larson driving a two-out single into right field. She stole second before Pickett took a walk to put two runners on. Akers was able to reach base on a Panther error and score one. Brooklyn Bode took a hit-by-pitch before Ellsworth was able to record the third out.
Larson came in to throw for the Lakers in the top of the second, striking out one and forcing the other two batters into a ground out and a fly out.
Burgess led off the bottom of the second with a bunt for a hit, and Murphy followed with a bunt for a hit of her own. Larson roped a two-out line over the center fielder's head for a double and scored both runners, allowing the Lakers to take a 3-1 lead.
Ellsworth was able to score one run on a laker error, walk, and stolen base. Akers was able to catch a runner stealing to end the inning.
Bode started the bottom half of the third with a line drive to right field before stealing second two pitches later. Miller took a walk to put two runners on before Burgess singled on a bunt for a hit to load the bases. Despite the no-out threat from the Lakers, the Panthers were able to lock down their defense and allow no runs to cross.
The Panthers continued their fight in the fourth, taking advantage of a Laker error to put on runner on. A sacrifice bunt put their runner in scoring position before they drove a single into center field to score one and tie the game back up at three.
Christians started the Lakers' offense with a line drive single to center field. Larson stepped up to the plate and drove a two-run home run over the center field fence for her 23rd of the season. Pickett kept the bats going with a single to right. Bode took a two-out walk before the third out.
The Lakers' defense locked down the top of the fifth, allowing none to score.
Burgess started the Lakers with a walk in the bottom of the fifth before advancing to second on a passed ball and stealing third. Murphy took a walk to put runners on the corners and stole second to put two in scoring position for the Lakers. DuChateau recorded an RBI on a ground ball to the pitcher that allowed Burgess to score and Murphy to advance to third. Murphy took advantage of a wild pitch to come across for the Lakers' seventh run of the game. Larson added her fourth hit of the game, but the third out came before she was able to come across.
The Panthers made a final fight in the top of the seventh with a leadoff double. Christians threw out a runner attempting to score from right field for the first out of the inning. A ground out gave the Lakers two, but the Panthers reached base on a Laker error to keep the inning going. A single allowed one to score, but there would be no more as the Lakers' defense shut down the half.
Larson had a perfect game at the plate, going 4-4 with two runs, four RBIs, a double, and a home run. Five other Lakers added hits for 10 total in the game. DuChateau added an RBI, and five Lakers tallied a stolen base in the contest. Pickett started in the circle, throwing 1.0 innings, allowing two hits and one run with zero earned runs. Larson finished the contest, throwing the remaining 6.0 innings, allowing six hits, three runs, zero earned, and one walk while striking out two.
The Lakers finish up regular season play this weekend, taking on Iowa Central at home Saturday at 1 & 3 pm. DMACC travels to Estherville on Sunday, with games scheduled at 12 & 2 pm.