The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team swept Ellsworth Community College in a pair of conference games. The Lakers dominated in game one, winning 8-3. Iowa Lakes then won 4-3 in a bottom of the seventh thriller. The Lakers are now 24-12 and 7-9 in conference.
GAME 1: 8 (ILCC), 3 (ECC)
After a quiet first inning, the Lakers got on the board in the bottom of the second. Walks to Gracie Knobloch, Macy Pickett, and Marrissa Miller loaded the bases. With two out, Kenzie Enter delivered a single to right, plating the first two runs of the game.
The offense continued to build in the third inning. Korilynn Christians led off with a walk and advanced to second on an Addison Wheeler single. All runners were then safe on a Knobloch fielder's choice. Karlee Akers then hit a fly ball to left, scoring Christians on a sacrifice fly. Katie Kvigne followed with a single to advance the runners sixty feet, before Wheeler scored on a passed ball to give the Lakers a 4-0 lead.
Iowa Lakes added a run in the fourth. Christians and Wheeler had back-to-back singles. Both runners advanced when Akers was hit by a pitch. Christians then scampered home on another Panthers passed ball to extend the lead to 5-0.
Ellsworth answered in the fifth inning, scoring on a Laker error and single to cut the deficit to 5-1. However, the Lakers responded immediately in the bottom half. Pickett led off the inning with a walk. Taylor Bergman then entered the game and stole second. Marrissa Miller then reached on a beautiful bunt down the third base line. Ellsworth attempted to get Miller out stealing second, allowing Bergman to score. Enter then reached on a fielder's choice, before both runners advanced on a passed ball to give the Lakers a 7-1 lead. The Lakers final run came when Wheeler singled, scoring Enter.
The Panthers showed some life late in the game. They added a run in the sixth on a solo home run and picked up another in the seventh on an RBI single. Despite the late push, the Lakers' defense held firm to close out the 8-3 win.
Addison Wheeler led the Lakers at the plate, going 3-4 with one run scored and one RBI. Katie Kvigne also had a multi-hit game, while Kenzie Enter added two runs batted in. Katie Kvigne earned the win in the circle. She allowed three runs, two earned, on three hits and four walks, while striking out eleven. Graice Knobloch threw one inning, allowing no earned run and no hits.
GAME 2: 4 (ILCC), 3 (ECC)
Ellsworth struck first in the opening inning, capitalizing on early opportunities to take a 2-0 lead. The Panthers used a combination of hits and aggressive baserunning to put pressure on the Lakers' defense, but Knobloch limited further damage and settled in.
From there, both teams settled into a defensive rhythm. Knobloch and Pickett combined to keep Ellsworth in check, while the Lakers worked to generate offense but were held scoreless through the first five innings despite a handful of baserunners.
The momentum shifted in the bottom of the sixth inning when the Lakers' bats came alive in a big way. Christians got things started with a solo home run to center field. Shortly after, Knobloch delivered another big swing, launching a solo homerun of her own to center, cutting the lead to 3-2.
With the game tied heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Lakers found a way to manufacture the go-ahead run. Kvigne led off the inning with a walk. Pickett then put down a bunt that was misplayed by the Panthers, allowing Pickett to reach first and Kvigne to advance to third. Kassidy Elkins then entered the game for Pickett at first. Miller followed with a clutch double to left field, tying the game and putting the winning run just sixty feet from home. The Lakers speed put pressure on Ellsworth, as a passed ball allowed Elkins to score and give the Lakers the 4-3 win.
Gracie Knobloch and Macy Pickett each went 2-3 in the game, while Marrissa Miller and Korilynn Christians each added a hit for the Lakers. Macy Pickett earned the win, throwing four innings. She allowed one run, zero earned, on four hits and five strikeouts. Gracie Knobloch threw the first three innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits and one walk, while striking out two.
The Lakers will play at home again on Tuesday, April 7th at 2:00 & 4:00 PM when they take on #22 North Iowa Area Community College.
Photo ID: Picture of Addison Wheeler hitting.
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.