The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team continued on their six-game winning streak. The Lakers first took down Grand Rapids Community College 10-9. They followed that with a 4-1 win over Jackson College. Iowa Lakes is now 10-2 on the season.
GAME 1: 10 (ILCC), 9 (GRCC)
The Iowa Lakes Lakers held off a late push from the Grand Rapids Community College Raiders to secure a 10–9 victory in a high-scoring contest.
The Lakers struck first in the opening inning. After a double from Korilynn Christians, Addison Wheeler singled to advance her to third. Wheeler then drew a throw to second while she was stealing, allowing Christians to scamper home.
Iowa Lakes broke the game open in the second inning with a five-run outburst. Katie Kvigne started the rally with a single and Marrissa Miller walked. Charlie Abernathy singled to load the bases. Christians then hit a hard ground ball to second base that was misplayed, allowing both Kvigne and Miller to score. Wheeler was hit by a pitch to load the bases once again. Gracie Knobloch hit and RBI groundout, scoring Abernathy. Karlee Akers highlighted the inning with a two-run double to push the Lakers' lead to 6-0.
Grand Rapids responded in the bottom half of the second, stringing together hits to plate three runs. They did this on three singles and a double.
The Lakers answered back in the fourth, with a Wheeler double and an Akers single to make the score 7-3. The Raiders got within two runs in the bottom of the inning, scoring two runs on a double, walk, error, and two stolen bases.
Miller led off the fifth with a single. She advanced to second on a single by Abernathy. Miller then swiped third and scored on a single from Kaitlyn DuChateau. Wheeler followed with a two-run single to center field, putting Iowa Lakes back in front 10-5.
Grand Rapids refused to go away. The Raiders scored twice in the bottom of the fifth and continued to pressure the Lakers late. In the seventh inning, Grand Rapids rallied with a pair of runs on consecutive hits to trim the deficit to 10–9 and put the tying run in scoring position. However, pitcher Morgan Fine shut the door for the Lakers, recording a strikeout to end the game and secure the one-run victory.
Macy Pickett earned the win, throwing four innings. She allowed five runs, four earned, on seven hits and two walks, while striking out five. Morgan Fine threw three innings in relief. She allowed four earned runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out five.
Addison Wheeler led the offense, going 3-4 with a hit by pitch, two runs scored and two runs batted in. Katie Kvigne was 2-4 with a run scored, while Karlee Akers contributed three runs batted in.
GAME 2: 4 (ILCC), 1 (JC)
The Iowa Lakes Lakers used timely hitting and a strong pitching performance from Kvigne to defeat the Jackson Jets, 4–1.
The Lakers struck first in the bottom of the first inning. After DuChateau led off with a double, the Lakers capitalized on a Jackson defensive miscue as Wheeler reached on an error that allowed DuChateau to score and give Iowa Lakes an early 1–0 advantage.
Iowa Lakes added to the lead in the third inning with back-to-back extra-base hits. Akers started the rally with a double that brought DuChateau, who reached on a single, home. Moments later, Pickett delivered another double to center field to score Akers and extend the Lakers' lead to 3–0.
Jackson managed to break through in the fifth inning with a solo homerun.
The Lakers responded in the sixth inning with an unusual highlight. Kenzie Enter raced all the way around the bases on a ball that was misplayed by the left fielder, pushing Iowa Lakes' lead to 4-1.
Kvigne handled the rest from the circle for the Lakers. The right-hander kept the Jets off the scoreboard for most of the afternoon, recording multiple strikeouts and working out of a seventh-inning threat. Jackson put a runner in scoring position with a leadoff double in the final frame, but Kvigne induced a fly out and a strikeout before the defense recorded the final out to seal the victory.
Kaitlyn DuChateau was 2-3 at the plate with a double and run scored. Katie Kvigne pitched all seven innings, allowing one earned run on six hits and five strikeouts.
Iowa Lakes will try to continue their hot start with two games tomorrow, March 6th. They will first take on Polk State Community College at 10:15 AM central time. Their second game will be against Oakland Community College at 12:30 PM central time.
Photo ID: Picture of Addison Wheeler hitting attached.
MEDIA: For more information, please contact Head Softball Coach, Katie King at (712) 362-8367 or the Iowa Lakes sports information office at (712) 362-7928.