The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team split with Northeast Iowa Community College on Saturday. The Lakers dominated game one, winning 10-2 in five innings and then fell 7-0 in game two. The Lakers are now 16-17 in conference and 33-31 overall.
GAME 1: 10 (ILCC), 2 (NICC) 5 innings
After a scoreless opening inning, the Lakers got on the board in the bottom of the second and never looked back. Macy Pickett singled to right and then advanced to third on a Cougar error to spark the offense. Marrissa Miller plated the first run of the game on a groundout, scoring Pickett. Kenzie Enter kept the inning going with a single and advancement to second on a passed ball. Charli Abernathy then delivered a single up the middle to give the Lakers a 2-0 lead.
The Lakers blew the game open in the third with a four-run inning. Gracie Knobloch ignited the rally by reaching base, before Karlee Akers delivered a base hit and Katie Kvigne ripped an RBI double to center field, scoring Knobloch. With runners at first and second, Pickett added to the pressure by reaching on an error that brought home another run. Miller kept things rolling with an RBI single, before Enter grounded out to plate the final run of the inning to give the Lakers a 6-0 lead.
Northeast Iowa answered with two runs in the fourth, but Iowa Lakes immediately responded with its biggest inning of the day. The Lakers sent the lineup around in a four-run bottom half, using patience at the plate and timely hitting to put the game out of reach. Singles from Korilynn Christians and Knobloch, followed by a walk to Akers loaded the bases. Kvigne then drew a walk and Pickett singled to extend the lead to 8-2. Miller delivered the final blow with a single to right, scoring both Akers and Kvigne.
In the circle, Kvigne settled in after Northeast Iowa threatened in the fifth. With the bases loaded, she kept the visitors off the board by forcing a fielder's choice at the plate before finishing the inning with a strikeout to end the threat.
Marrissa Miller led the offensive attack, going 2-3 with four runs batted in. Macy Pickett was also 2-3 with two runs batted in and two runs scored. Katie Kvigne earned her seventeenth win of the season, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits and two walks, while striking out four.
GAME 2: 7 (NICC), 0 (ILCC)
Northeast Iowa struck quickly in the opening inning, capitalizing on a pair of walks and timely hitting to plate two runs and seize early momentum. Despite the quick start by the visitors, Iowa Lakes settled in defensively, highlighted by strong infield play and solid work in the circle.
The Lakers had opportunities to generate offense, with Pickett collecting a double in the second inning and Abernathy delivering a single in the third. Addison Wheeler also reached base twice via walks, giving Iowa Lakes chances to build momentum, but Northeast Iowa was able to work out of jams and keep the Lakers off the scoreboard.
Defensively, Iowa Lakes flashed moments of strong execution. In the third inning, Akers, Wheeler, and Knobloch turned a crisp double play to erase a Northeast Iowa threat. Akers was also active in the field, recording multiple outs and helping anchor the defense.
Northeast Iowa broke the game open in the fourth inning, stringing together hits and drawing several walks to score five runs and extend its lead to 7-0. From there, Iowa Lakes' pitching staff settled down. Knobloch came on in relief and delivered a strong outing, striking out two batters in a scoreless fifth inning, while the Lakers defense retired nine of the final 10 hitters they faced. Key plays by Wheeler, Akers, and Knobloch helped Iowa Lakes close the game with steady defense.
Iowa Lakes recorded just four hits at the plate in game two. Those who delivered a hit were Gracie Knobloch, Karlee Akers, Macy Pickett, and Charli Abernathy. Macy Pickett suffered the loss in the circle. She threw 3.1 innings, allowing six runs, five earned, on five hits and three walks, while striking out one. Morgan Fine threw .2 innings allowing one earned run on three walks and striking out one. Gracie Knobloch threw the final three innings where she sat down all nine batters she saw in order, highlighted by two strikeouts.
The Lakers will play their final two games of the season on Sunday, April 26th, as they take on Hawkeye Community College at 1:00 and 3:00 PM. Tomorrow will continue both kids weekend and alumni day.
Photo ID: Picture of Iowa Lakes Softball team 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.
Photography By: Cecil Ramsey Photography