The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team swept Northeast Community College in two conference games. The Lakers took game one 8-6, before earning the game two win 11-7. The Lakers are now 22-12 overall, and 5-9 in conference.
GAME 1: 8 (ILCC), 6 (NCC)
After a scoreless first two innings, the Lakers struck first in the third. Charli Abernathy led off the inning with a single and then scored on a two-run homerun from Kaitlyn DuChateau. Northeast responded in the bottom half, tying the game on a two-run homer of their own to even the score at 2-2.
Both teams continued to trade momentum through the middle innings. The Lakers regained control in the fifth inning. Korilynn Christians doubled and then advanced to third on a single off the bat of Addison Wheeler. Wheeler then stole second and both runners came around to score on a hard ground ball from Karlee Akers, helping Iowa Lakes build a 4-2 advantage.
Northeast answered again in the sixth inning, tying the game at 4-4 on a two-run home run.
The Lakers offense erupted in the top of the seventh to create separation. Iowa Lakes plated four runs in the frame. Wheeler led off with a single and then advanced to second on a single from Gracie Knobloch. Akers then laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners sixty feet. Katie Kvigne delivered a two-run single to give the Lakers a 6-4 lead. With two outs, Kenzie Enter delivered a single up the middle that advanced Kvigne to third. Abernathy plated the final two runs on a single, to extend the Lakers lead 8-4.
Northeast threatened in the bottom of the seventh, drawing multiple walks and using fielder's choices to push across two runs and cut the deficit to 8-6. With runners on and momentum building, the Lakers defense held firm, recording the final out on a fielder's choice to Wheeler secure the win.
The Lakers were led at the plate by Charli Abernathy, going 3-3 with two runs batted in and one run scored. Addison Wheeler was also 3-3 with one run scored. Morgan Fine earned the win in the circle, throwing 1.2 innings and allowing two earned runs on one hit and two walks. Katie Kvigne started the game, throwing 5.1 innings. She allowed four earned runs on eight hits and one walk, while striking out two.
GAME 2: 11 (ILCC), 7 (NCC)
After a quiet first inning, Northeast jumped out to an early lead in the second, highlighted by a three-run home run that helped build a 5-0 advantage.
The Lakers began to chip away in the third inning, as Abernathy started the offense with a single and then advanced to second on a Northeast error. DuChateau followed with a double, scoring Abernathy. Christians then singled, scoring DuChateau but Christians was thrown out attempting to advance to second. With two outs, Wheeler got the offense going again with a single up the middle. Knobloch followed with a walk and then Akers brought Wheeler around to score on a double to make the score 5-3.
The Hawks scored one run in the bottom of the third on one hit and three walks.
The turning point came in the top of the fourth inning when Iowa Lakes erupted offensively. The Lakers strung together a series of hits and capitalized on defensive miscues to plate seven runs in the frame. Macy Pickett walked and then back-to-back singles from Kenzie Enter and Abernathy loaded up the bases. The first run scored on a Northeast error off the bat of DuChateau. Christians then singled to right to score both Enter and Abernathy and tie the game at 6-6. Wheeler gave the Lakers their first lead of the game on a sacrifice fly. Knobloch followed with a double, giving the Lakers an 8-6 lead. With Akers on first, Kvigne singled to bring up Pickett who delivered a two-out rbi single. Enter plated the final run of the inning on a single to right, scoring Kvigne.
Northeast responded in the bottom of the sixth inning, putting together multiple hits to score a run and cut the deficit to 10-7. However, the Lakers added an insurance run in the seventh, on singles from Abernathy and DuChateau and a Northeast miscue off the bat of Wheeler.
Knobloch got the Hawks to go down in order in the bottom of the seventh. She got two groundballs to Enter and one groundball to Wheeler.
Graice Knobloch earned the win, throwing 4.2 innings. She allowed one earned run on four hits, two walks, and five strikeouts. Macy Pickett threw 2.1 innings. She allowed six runs, four earned, on three hits, two walks, and two strikeouts. Charli Abernathy once again led the Lakers at the plate. She was 3-4 with three runs scored. Gracie Knobloch, Korilynn Christians, Kenzie Enter, Kaitlyn DuChateau, and Macy Pickett each provided two hits in the game.
The Lakers are scheduled to take on Ellsworth Community College on Friday, April 3rd at 2:00 and 4:00 PM at home.
Photo ID: Picture of Charli Abernathy sliding safely into second 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.