The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team ended their regular season play with two wins over Hawkeye Community College. The Lakers took game one 5-1, before fighting for the 3-2 win in game two. The Lakers finish the regular season 35-21 overall and 18-18 in conference.
GAME 1: 5 (ILCC), 1 (HCC)
The Iowa Lakes Lakers used timely hitting, sharp defense, and a dominant performance in the circle from Katie Kvigne to earn a 5-1 victory over Hawkeye in conference play.
Hawkeye struck first in the opening inning, stringing together a pair of singles and a walk before pushing across a run to take an early 1-0 lead. But Iowa Lakes quickly settled in and answered in a big way in the second inning.
The Lakers' offense came alive with two outs in the frame, beginning when Kenzie Enter singled and stole second. She then came around to score on an RBI base hit from Charli Abernathy to tie the game. Moments later, Addison Wheeler delivered the biggest swing of the afternoon, launching a two-run home run to right field to put Iowa Lakes in front 3-1.
From there, the Lakers leaned on strong pitching and clean defensive execution. Kvigne kept Hawkeye off balance throughout the contest, working out of traffic and delivering key strikeouts in pressure situations. Defensively, Iowa Lakes turned two momentum-shifting double plays—one in the first inning started by Enter, Wheeler, and Macy Pickett, and another in the fourth inning off the gloves of Wheeler, Enter, and Pickett—to erase Hawkeye threats and keep momentum in the Lakers' dugout.
The offense added insurance in the fifth inning when Korilynn Christians reached on an error and then advanced to second when Gracie Knobloch was hit by a pitch. Kvigne helped herself out by singling and scoring Christians to stretch the lead to 4-1.
Iowa Lakes put the finishing touches on the win in the sixth inning. With two outs, Abernathy sparked the rally with a single, Wheeler followed with a walk, and Christians delivered an RBI single to bring home another run and cap the scoring at 5-1.
Kvigne closed the door in the seventh, issuing a walk before retiring the next three hitters on routine fly ball outs to secure the victory.
Charli Abernathy led the way at the plate for the Lakers. She was 2-3 with two runs scored and a run batted in. Kenzie Enter also added two hits and one run scored. Katie Kvigne earned the win in the circle, throwing the complete game. She allowed one earned run on seven hits and three walks, while striking out three.
GAME 2: 3 (ILCC), 2 (HCC)
Iowa Lakes struck first in the bottom of the second inning, manufacturing an early run through patience at the plate and timely contact. Pickett drew a walk to begin the rally, and consecutive singles from Enter and Abernathy loaded the bases. A fielder's choice off the bat of Wheeler brought Pickett home, giving the Lakers a 1-0 advantage.
The Lakers' defense was sharp early, as Hawkeye was held scoreless through the first three innings. Strong infield play from Wheeler, Enter, Kaitlyn DuChateau, and Knobloch kept the RedTails in check, while Pickett worked efficiently in the circle.
Hawkeye answered in the fourth, using a double and capitalizing on an error to tie the game at 1-1. Hawkeye took the lead in the fifth, ripping two doubles to give themselves a 2-1 lead. Morgan Fine would then come on in relief and retire the next two batters, highlighted by an outfield assist from Christians in right.
Iowa Lakes refused to go away.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Lakers put together their best rally of the afternoon. DuChateau opened the inning with a single, and after Enter worked a walk, Abernathy delivered a clutch RBI single to center, scoring DuChateau and tying the game at 2-2. Moments later, Wheeler followed with another RBI single to right field, bringing home Enter and giving the Lakers the lead.
Hawkeye was able to get the first runner on in the top of the seventh on a single, but a diving catch from Abernathy in left and groundouts to Fine and DuChateau would end the game.
Charli Abernathy was once again the spark at the plate, going 2-3 in the game with an RBI. Addison Wheeler picked up the other two runs batted in for the Lakers. Morgan Fine earned the win for the Lakers in relief. She threw 2.1 innings, not allowing a run on one hit. Macy Pickett threw 4.1 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits and one walk, while striking out two.
The Lakers will begin their regional tournament on Friday, May 1st. They will travel to Cedar Rapids to take on North Iowa Area Community College at 4:00 PM. Depending on the result of that game will determine the Lakers next game.
Photo ID: Picture of Charli Abernathy 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.