The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team took down Division 1 Southwestern Community College. They won game one 6-2 and then game two 18-9. The Lakers are now 15-3 on the season.
GAME 1: 6 (ILCC), 2 (SWCC)
The Lakers struck first in the top of the second inning. After singles from Gracie Knobloch and Katie Kvigne, Macy Pickett delivered a double in the right center gap to give the Lakers a 2-0 lead. Charli Abernathy added an RBI single to bring home Pickett and extend the lead to 3-0.
Iowa Lakes added another run in the third inning. Singles from Korilynn Christians and Addison Wheeler and a hit by pitch by Knobloch loaded the bases. Karlee Akers then grounded out to the second basemen, scoring Christians.
The Lakers continued to build their advantage in the fifth inning with disciplined situational hitting. Knobloch led off the inning with a single and then advanced to third on an Akers double. Katie Kvigne then drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, before Akers scored on a sacrifice bunt from Pickett.
Southwestern began to chip away in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Spartans recorded a pair of RBI hits, including a double to left field and a single to right field, cutting the deficit to 6–2.
Southwestern threatened late with baserunners in the sixth and seventh innings, but the Lakers were able to close out the game to secure the 6–2 victory.
Charli Abernathy led the offensive attack, going 2-3 with an RBI and two stolen bases. Gracie Knobloch and Korilynn Christians also added two hits, while Macy Pickett drove in three runs. Katie Kvigne threw all seven innings. She allowed two earned runs on eleven hits and four strikeouts.
GAME 2: 18 (ILCC), 9 (SWCC)
The Lakers struck first in the opening inning, plating two runs. Kaitlyn DuChateau led off the game with a single before Christians drew a walk. Wheeler and Knobloch both had RBI singles to score DuChateau and Christians. Southwestern responded quickly in the bottom half of the inning, capitalizing on a pair of defensive miscues and timely hitting to take a 3–2 lead.
The Lakers answered in a big way in the second inning. Marrissa Miller dropped down a beautiful bunt and then advanced to second on a Kenzie Enter walk. Both runners then stole a base to get two runners in scoring position for Abernathy, who delivered with a double. DuChateau and Christians hit back-to-back singles to score Abernathy and give the Lakers a 5-3 lead. Wheeler then drew a walk to load the bases, before Knobloch cleared them with a double to center. Knobloch advanced to third on a single off the bat of Kvigne before scoring on a groundout from Miller, making the score 9-3.
SWCC continued to battle back, scoring three runs in the second and four runs in the third inning to trim the deficit to 9–8. However, the Lakers' offense continued to apply pressure throughout the middle innings.
In the fourth inning, Akers singled and advanced to third on a double from Miller. Akers then scored on a passed ball.
The fifth innings saw the Lakers get some insurance runs. DuChateau walked and advanced to second on a Christians single to left. Wheeler then ripped a double, scoring both runners. Knobloch kept the rally going with a single, before Wheeler scored on a sacrifice fly from Akers, extending the Lakers lead to 13-8.
The Lakers continued to pad their lead in the sixth inning. Enter led off the inning with a walk. DuChateau singled and Christians doubled to score Enter.
Iowa Lakes put four more runs up in the seventh inning. Akers singled to center and then Kassidy Elkins came in to run for her. Elkins quickly stole second. Miller was hit by a pitch, before both runners advanced on a passed ball. Enter grounded out to second, scoring Elkins and advancing Miller to third. Miller scampered home on another passed ball to give the Lakers a 15-8 lead. Abernathy and DuChateau kept things going with singles, before both runners scored from a Christians double.
Defensively, the Lakers closed the game in the bottom of the seventh, allowing just one run before recording the final outs to secure the 18–9 win.
The Lakers offense put up 22 hits in game two. Gracie Knobloch was 4-5 with four runs batted in. Korilynn Christians was 4-4 with three runs batted in and three runs scored, while Kaitlyn DuChateau added four hits as well and four runs scored. Macy Pickett got the win in game two, allowing eight runs, five earned, on nine hits and three walks, while striking out two. Morgan Fine was dominate in relief. She threw the final four innings, allowing one earned run on six hits and two walks, while striking out three.
Iowa Lakes will start their conference play with a trip to Central Community College on Wednesday, March 18th. Games times will be 2:00 and 4:00 PM.
Photo ID: Picture of Charli Abernathy 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.