The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team split day two of their weekend trip against Ellsworth with final scores of 11-7 and 4-12. This brings the Lakers to 27-18 overall for the season and 7-9 in conference.
GAME 1: 11 (ILCC), 7 (ECC)
Kaitlyn DuChateau started the Lakers' offense with a home run, giving them an early 1-0 lead. Korilynn Christians had a one-out single to right field and an Ellsworth error on Taylor Larson's ground ball allowed her to advance to third. Larson stole second before Karlee Akers had a hard-hit line drive resulting in a double to score both. A two-out single from Brooklyn Bode allowed Akers to score, giving the Lakers a 4-0 lead. The Panthers struck back in the bottom of the first, tying the game up on four Laker errors and two singles.
With Abby Burgess behind the plate, no runners were allowed to steal as she caught two in the bottom of the second.
The next score of the game came from the Lakers in the top of the fourth inning. Bode started up the offense with a double which was followed by a Burgess single to advance Bode to third. Burgess stole second to put two runners in scoring position for the Lakers with one out. DuChateau allowed Bode to scurry home by hitting a ground ball to the shortstop. Marrissa Miller drove a line drive into left field that allowed Burgess to come across the plate. Christians kept the rally going with two outs by driving another base hit to center field. Miller stole third before Larson had a single to center field, scoring the seventh run of the game for the Lakers.
Ellsworth battled in their half of the fourth, scoring two on two singles, an error, and a double.
Iowa Lakes rallied again in the top of the fifth, starting with a one-out Panther error that allowed Bode to reach base. Burgess ripped a line drive into left field for a single and a passed ball allowed Bode to scamper home. Myla Murphy followed with an infield single and a single from DuChateau allowed Burgess to score. Miller took a walk to load the bases before Christians had an RBI ground out to score Murphy for the Lakers' 10-7 lead. The Panthers put pressure on the Lakers' defense by loading the bases with only one out, but Morgan fine struck out the batter for out two and forced the next into a ground out to eliminate the pressure.
The Lakers scored one more in the top of the seventh, with Burgess leading off with a single. A one-out single from DuChateau followed by Miller taking a hit-by-pitch allowed two runners on for the Lakers. Christians took a walk and Larson took a hit-by-pitch to bring the 11th run in. Fine forced the first two outs into a fly out and ground out, but struck out the last batter of the game to complete her save and grant the Lakers the win.
DuChateau was 4-5 in the game with three RBIs, leading the Lakers to victory. She was followed by Burgess going 3-4 and Christians and Bode both going 2-4. Four other Lakers also tallied hits in the 15-hit victory. Kassidy Elkins earned the win in the circle for the Lakers, throwing 4.0 innings, allowing 10 hits and zero earned runs. Morgan Fine earned herself a save by throwing 3.0 innings, allowing no hits and no runs while striking out three.
GAME 2: 4 (ILCC), 12 (KCC)
Game two also started quickly for the Lakers as Christians singled with two outs and was scored on a Larson triple to right field. Larson started off the game strong in the circle for the Lakers, allowing only a single and a walk with no runs.
The top of the second was led off by Alexis Cullinane driving a single up the middle. Burgess and Murphy each followed with singles to load the bases for the Lakers, and a walk from DuCheateau allowed the lone run to score in the second.
Ellsworth fought back in the bottom of the third inning, scoring two runs on four singles. They kept their offense up by talking a hit-by-pitch and another single to drive in the next two runs.
Iowa Lakes came back to fight in the top of the fifth, seeing a one-out single from Miller to start the inning up. Christians doubled to right to put two in scoring position and a sacrifice fly from Larson scored one. Akers singled on an infield hit to score Christians and tie the game up at four. Larson forced a double play in the circle for the Lakers and forced the last batter of the inning to fly out, coming out of the fifth unscathed.
The Panthers took advantage of a few Laker errors in the bottom of the sixth but also had four hits to rally up eight runs and end the game.
The offense in game two for the Lakers was led by Larson going 1-1 with two RBIs, a sacrifice fly, and one walk. Christians followed her by going 2-3 with two runs and five other Lakers tallied hits. Larson took the loss in the circle for the Lakers. She threw 5.0 innings of the contest, allowing nine hits, five runs, and three walks while striking out three. Fine threw 0.2 innings, allowing four hits, seven runs, and zero earned runs, while striking out one.
The Lakers return home to play again this Wednesday. The games are scheduled for 2 & 4 pm as Northeast travels to Estherville.