The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team took two wins on their first day in Florida. The Lakers took on Grand Rapids Community College in game one and got the 11-2 victory in five innings. They then played another five inning game where they beat Jackson College 14-5. The Lakers are now 8-2 on the season.
GAME 1: 11 (ILCC), 2 (GRCC) 5 innings
The Lakers continued their strong start to the season with an impressive 11-2 victory over the Grand Rapids Community College Raiders.
The Lakers offense broke through in the second inning. After Karlee Akers drew a walk and Marrissa Miller followed with another free pass. Charli Abernathy delivered a clutch RBI single to center, scoring two runs and giving the Lakers an early 2-0 advantage.
The third inning showcased the Lakers' speed and discipline at the plate. Korilynn Christians reached on an error and then stole second. Akers then drew a walk and both runners advanced on a Macy Pickett single. Christians then scored on a Raiders error to put the Lakers up 3-0.
The big blow came in the fourth inning when the Lakers erupted for five runs. Kaitlyn DuChateau doubled down the left field line. Christians was then hit by a pitch, before DuChateau scored on an Addison Wheeler single. Leah Bode came in to run to Christians. With Bode on third, Wheeler stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Knobloch highlighted the rally with a two-run double to right field. Akers and Macy Pickett followed with back-to-back singles to load up the bases. A walk to Marrissa Miller and a single from Kenzie Enter plated two more runs to put the Lakers up 8-0.
Grand Rapids managed to push across two runs, drawing several walks in the fourth inning and adding a double from, but the Lakers' pitching staff held firm to secure the victory.
Iowa Lakes' final three runs came in the fifth inning. Singles from Wheeler, Knobloch, and Akers scored the first run of the inning. Pickett then reached on a Grand Rapids error to load the bases back up. Miller drew another bases loaded walk to score Knobloch. The final run of the inning came from a groundout off the bat of Enter.
Gracie Knobloch led the Lakers at the plate, going 2-4 with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Karlee Akers was 2-2 with two walks, two runs scored, and 1 run batted in. Addison Wheeler and Macy Pickett also added two hits in the game. Katie Kvigne earned the win, allowing two earned runs in 3.1 innings. She allowed one hit, while walking three and striking out one. Gracie Knobloch threw 1.2 innings in relief. She allowed no runs on one hit, while walking three and striking out one.
GAME 2: 14 (ILCC), 5 (JC) 5 innings
Jackson College struck first in the top of the opening inning, capitalizing on timely singles and aggressive base running to take an early 2-0 lead. The Lakers responded immediately in the bottom half of the frame with an offensive surge that set the tone for the rest of the game.
Wheeler ignited the rally with a single, and Knobloch followed with a base hit of her own. Akers delivered the first big blow of the inning, ripping a two-run double to left to plate Knobloch and Wheeler. The Lakers continued to string together quality at-bats as Pickett, Kvigne, and Kolodzienski all recorded RBI singles to give the Lakers a 4-2 advantage after one inning.
The Jets managed to push across additional runs in the second, using walks and a pair of hits to tie the game up. However, the Lakers answered once again in the bottom of the second with another explosive inning.
DuChateau worked a walk to get things started, and Christians followed with a single to center. Wheeler then delivered a clutch RBI double to the gap, scoring DuChateau and setting up a two-run single by Akers that swung the momentum firmly in the Lakers' favor. Pickett and Morgan Kolodzienski walked to load the bases, before Miller walked to give the Lakers an 8-4 advantage.
The bottom of the fourth, the Lakers score one run on a hit by pitch, walk, and a passed ball. The Jets also scored on in their half of the inning on a single, sacrifice bunt, and stolen base.
The knockout punch came in the bottom of the fifth. Wheeler laced another double to right, and Morgan Fine walked. Akers continued her standout performance with an RBI single to center. A Pickett walk and a fielder's choice off the bat of Kvigne brought up Kolodzienski. Jackson College misplayed a pop fly to right, clearing the bases and giving the Lakers a 13-5 in in five innings.
Karlee Akers was perfect at the plate, going 3-3. She had one double, five runs batted in, and three runs scored. Addison Wheeler was 3-4 with two doubles, three runs scored, and one run batted in. Morgan Fine got the win in the circle, throwing three innings and allowing one earned run on three hits, four walks, and striking out one. Macy Pickett also threw two innings, allowing four runs, two earned, on five hits and one walk.
Iowa Lakes will play the same two teams tomorrow. They will take on Grand Rapids Community College at 9:00 AM and Jackson College at 11:15 AM central time.
Photo ID: Picture of Karlee Akers 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.