The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team lost two to DMACC in their last games of regular season play. The final scores of the games were 0-8 in game one and 2-6 in game two. This brings the Lakers to 30-27 overall for the season and 10-18 in conference.
GAME 1: 0 (ILCC), 8 (DMACC)
The Bears started the game scoring one on a Laker error, stolen base, ground ball, and sacrifice fly. Kaitlyn DuChateau started the offense for the Lakers, taking a hit-by-pitch to reach first and advanced to second on a passed ball. She was able to advance to third on a sacrifice bunt from Korilynn Christians, but DMACC's pitching was able to retire the next two batters and finish their half unscathed.
DMACC kept their bats alive in the second, starting with a leadoff double followed by a Laker error to score one.
The next run of the game was a solo home run in the top of the third from DMACC to bring their lead to 3-0. The Bears' defense remained on lock in the bottom of the third, retiring two of the three outs.
Another solo home run in the top of the fourth gave the Bears a four-run lead. Macy Pickett took a two-out walk in the Lakers' half of the fourth, but DMACC would not allow her to advance any farther.
The Bears continued their scoring streak in the fifth, scoring a single run on a single and a double. The Lakers' defense would sit down the next three batters without another run crossing.
Both teams would lock down their defense during the sixth inning, seeing only one runner reach base between the two teams.
DMACC broke open the gates in the top of the seventh, scoring three runs on three singles, a walk, a sacrifice fly, and an error.
Taylor Larson would reach base for the Lakers in the top of the seventh by taking a leadoff walk. A sacrifice bunt from Pickett advanced her to second, and Kassidy Elkins took advantage of an error by the Bears to reach first with two outs. Despite runners on the corners, the Bears were able to get the third out without allowing a run to come across.
The Lakers were only able to reach base four times in game one as DMACC's pitching and defense collected a no-hitter. Pickett took the loss in the circle for the Lakers, throwing 6.0 innings, allowing ten hits, eight runs, five earned, and two walks while striking out one. Elkins threw the remaining 1.0 inning, allowing no hits, no runs, and no walks while striking out one.
GAME 2: 2 (ILCC), 6 (DMACC)
The Bears started game two off strong, scoring three runs in the top of the first on three hits, a walk, and an error.
The Lakers fought back in their half of the first, seeing DuChateau lead off with a single. Christians and Larson each had a single of their own to load the bases for the Lakers. Alexis Cullinane was able to tally an RBI on a sacrifice fly that allowed the Lakers to score one.
DMACC was able to take advantage of the Lakers' shaky defense to put runners on second and third. Pickett was able to turn a double play for the Lakers, but the Bears would score one before they were able to get out number three.
Marrissa Miller was able to draw a two-out walk in the bottom of the second, but she would be the only runner on in the inning for the Lakers.
The Lakers were able to keep the Bears quiet in the third, not allowing a run to score. DMACC was able to score two in the top of the fourth, on two singles and a double.
Karlee Akers drove a one-out double over the left fielder's head in the Lakers' half of the fourth. A ground ball from Brooklyn Bode allowed Akers to advance to third, but she would be held there as the Bears' pitching was able to retire the last batter of the inning.
Elkins struck out two of the three outs in the top of the fifth, forcing the third into a ground out. Christians gave the Lakers some hope in the bottom of the fifth, driving a two-out home run over the left field fence, cutting the deficit to four runs.
The Lakers' defense and pitching were strong in the top of the sixth, allowing no runner to score for the Bears. Cullinane took a one-out walk in the bottom of the sixth for the Lakers, but she would be left on base as the next two outs came too soon.
Elkins allowed a lead-off walk in the top of the seventh, but the Laker defense picked her up as they grabbed the next three outs on two fly outs and a line out.
The Lakers had a two-out fight in the top of the seventh, seeing a single from DuChateau to start the rally. Christians followed with a single of her own, and Larson took a walk to load the bases. The Bear's pitching was able to shut down the Lakers, ending the game with a 6-2 lead.
The Lakers tallied a total of seven hits in the game and were led by Christians going 3-4 with a home run. DuChateau followed going 2-4, and Cullinane was able to tally an RBI for the Lakers. Larson suffered the loss for the Lakers in the circle, throwing 3.0 innings, allowing 11 hits, six runs, four earned, and one walk while striking out one. Elkins finished the game, throwing 4.0 innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out four.
The Lakers will continue to the conference tournament, scheduled to start next Friday, May 2nd. The double elimination tournament is scheduled for the 2nd through the 4th.