The Iowa Lakes softball team won two quick games against Northeast Community College. The Lakers hit three homeruns in the game one 10-1 five inning win and hit four homeruns in the game two 17-1 five inning victory. The Lakers are now 17-7-1 overall and 6-4 in conference.
GAME 1: 10 (ILCC), 1 (NECC) 5 innings
It took the Lakers offense a little time to get started, but once it did there was no stopping their bats. Amanda Franke led off the third inning with a walk. She then stole second and advanced to third on a Hawks error off the bat of Alyssa Thorson. Lexi Chase then drove a ball over the fence to put the Lakers up 3-0. Bryn Bohmann quickly followed Chase with a homerun of her own. Eliya Johnson got the offense started again with a walk. She advanced to second on a wild pitch and came home on a Kaitlin Roundy single. Roundy took advantage of a ball in the dirt to put herself in scoring position. She advanced to third on a MacKenna Jones single. Jones then stole second and both runners scored on a Franke double to give the Lakers a 7-0 lead.
Northeast got their lone run of the game on a solo homerun to lead off the top of the fourth. Bohmann reached base in the bottom half of the inning on a Hawks error that allowed her to advance to second. Johnson grounded out to second to advance Bohmann to third, who scored on a Roundy sacrifice fly.
With the Lakers up 8-1 in the bottom of the fifth, they needed just one run to end the game early. Down to their final out, Franke walked and Thorson homered to complete the 10-1 victory.
Alyssa Thorson was 1-2 with one walk, two runs batted in, and two runs scored. Lexi Chase was 2-3 with three runs batted in and one run scored. Amanda Franke reached base in all three at bats. Lexi Chase picked up the win for the Lakers, allowing just one earned run on four hits. She struck out three Northeast batters, while walking just one.
GAME 2: 17 (ILCC), 1 (NECC) 5 innings
The Lakers got the bats going in the bottom of the second, when Karisa Hernandez led off with a double. Paige Grafton walked before both runners moved up a base on a passed ball. Allie McCabe bunted her way on to load up the bases. A dropped third strike allowed the first run of the inning to score. Chase followed Thorson with a single, scoring Grafton and McCabe and giving the Lakers a 3-0 lead.
Northeast quickly answered with a solo homerun in the top of the third to bring them within two runs.
Iowa Lakes put up fourteen runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth. Grafton led off with a walk and was pinch ran for by Brielle Bartelt. McCabe singled to left, but the ball was then misplayed by the Hawks fielder to allow Bartelt to score from first. Franke drew her third walk of the day before Thorson hit her second homerun of the day to give the Lakers a 7-1 lead. Chase followed with a walk and scored on another Bohmann homerun. Eliya Johnson singled and advanced to third when Roundy was hit by a pitch and Hernandez was walked. Kiley Hill entered the game to run for Roundy at second. A Grafton single to left scored Johnson to put the Lakers up 10-1. Franke was walked for the second time in the inning, scoring Hill. Baylee O'Donnell then singled to score Hernandez and Grafton. Kaitlyn Halsband hit the Lakers third homerun of the inning to make the score 17-1.
Allie McCabe was 2-3 with two runs scored for the Lakers. Alyssa Thorson was 1-2 with three runs batted in and one run scored, while Eliya Johnson added two hits for the Lakers. Eliya Johnson picked up the win for the Lakers, allowing one earned run on three hits while striking out six and walking one.
The Lakers will look to continue their hot hitting when they take on Northeast Community College tomorrow, April 3rd. Game time are set for 12:00 and 2:00 PM.
Photo ID: Picture of the Lakers celebrating after a Kaitlyn Halsband homerun 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.
PHOTO CREDIT: Cecil Ramsey Photography