The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team earned two more wins on their final day of a fourteen-game spring break trip. The Lakers combined for twenty-two hits in their 14-6 (6-inning) win over SUNY Niagara. They followed that with Pickett throwing thirteen strikeouts in the 7-2 victory over South Suburban College. The Lakers end their trip going 9-3 and 15-7 overall for the season.
GAME 1: 14 (ILCC), 6 (SUNYN) 6 innings
SUNY Niagara jumped out for an early lead, scoring two runs in the first inning. They did this on a walk, single, double, and ground out. Although the Lakers threatened in their half of the inning by loading up the bases, the Thunder Wolves were able to get the final out on a flyball.
Brooklyn Bode and Myla Murphy both singled with one out in the bottom of the second to get the Lakers' offense started. They then both got into scoring position with a stolen base before DuChateau drove a ball to center, scoring both runners. DuChateau quickly followed them home when Pickett doubled to center as well.
SUNY Niagara got two quick runners on in the third with a leadoff walk followed by a single. Kassidy Elkins got the next two batters to fly out to Burgess and Bode before a Laker error allowed one run to come across the plate to tie the game at 3-3.
The score remained that way until Murphy reached on her second single of the game. She then used her speed to swipe two bases and put the go-ahead run just sixty feet from the plate. DuChateau continued her hot hitting, doubling to score Murphy. DuChateau was able to advance to third after tagging up on a fly out from Pickett and then scored on Korilynn Christians's single. Christians swiped second to put herself in scoring position before Karlee Akers doubled to left to give the Lakers a 6-3 lead.
Pickett then entered the game to pitch in the fifth inning. The Thunder Wolves took advantage, getting three runs on two singles and a home run. Pickett then locked in, getting the next three batters out in order with two strikeouts and a flyout. With the game tied, Cullinane quickly got the inning going with a single. Murphy followed with a single, and then both runners advanced on an error. Cullinane scored to put the Lakers back on top and Murphy advanced to third on the error. DuChateau grounded out to the shortstop to score Murphy and the final run of the inning.
The Lakers scored six in the top of the sixth to complete the run-rule win. Akers and Abby Burgess both singled before coming around to score on Brooklyn Bode's triple. Murphy earned her fourth hit of the day before DuChateau gave the Lakers a 13-6 lead with a three-run home run. With two outs, Christians doubled, and then a walk from Larson, hit-by-pitch to Akers, and a walk to Burgess pushed the final run across the plate.
Kaitlyn DuChateau continued her nineteen-game hitting streak by leading the Lakers at the plate. She was 4-5 with seven runs batted in, three runs scored, two doubles, and a home run. Myla Murphy was a perfect 4-4 with four runs scored and three stolen bases. Macy Pickett earned the win in the circle for the Lakers. She threw the final two innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four. Kassidy Elkins pitched the first four innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits and two walks, while striking out one.
GAME 2: 7 (LLCC), 2 (SSC)
Iowa Lakes and South Suburban were locked in a good old-fashioned pitcher dual until the bottom of the third. The Bulldogs scored one run on a triple and Iowa Lakes error.
The score remained 1-0 in favor of South Suburban until the Lakers took the lead in the top of the sixth. Pickett led off the inning with a double. Not to be outdone, Christians added her own double before Taylor Larson upped them with a two-run home run to center to give the Lakers a 3-1 lead. Pickett was able to shut down a South Suburban threat in the bottom of the inning by getting three straight strikeouts.
Not comfortable with their lead, the Lakers extended it by scoring four runs in the seventh with two outs. DuChateau drew a walk and advanced to second on a single from Pickett. Christians followed with a single up the middle to score DuChateau and advance Pickett to second. Larson then hit her second home run in her last two at-bats to give the Lakers a 7-1 lead. South Suburban was able to muster one run in the bottom of the seventh on two singles and a stolen base.
Pickett earned her second win of the day, throwing all seven innings. She scattered six hits and one walk while striking out thirteen. Taylor Larson was 2-3 with five runs batted in, two runs scored, and two home runs. Korilynn Christians was 3-4 with two runs scored and two runs batted in
The Lakers return to action on Wednesday, March 19th, to take on Division I Southwestern Community College. The games will be played in Creston, Iowa at 2:00 and 4:00 PM.