Strong pitching and timely hitting were the key on Thursday as the Parkland Softball team ended their six game losing streak by defeating John Wood 3-2 and 3-1. The wins avenged a pair of defeats to the Blazers less than a week ago.  The victories move PC to (17-22 9-11) while John Wood falls to (16-14 8-10).  Parkland will host Kankakee in a 3:00 non-conference doubleheader on Friday.
 
Game 1:   Parkland 3  John Wood 2  8 innings
 
The Cobras jumped out on top in the 1st as Kyliegh Basham doubled and Shelby Youngblood followed with an RBI single. After Wood tied the game in the bottom of the frame, PC would answer back in the 2nd as Ivy Nichols drove home Madyson Butkauskas with a run scoring single.  The Blazers tied the game in the 6th and after neither team scored in the 7th,  the game headed to extra innings.  Youngblood started the inning at 2nd due to the international tie breaker and she scored on Lauren Block's RBI base hit. Kirbie Mendenhall earned the win striking out seven and walking none. Basham and Block each had three hits while Mendenhall helped her cause with a pair of base knocks.  
 
PC   110 000  01  3 10 0
JW  100 001  00  2 13 1
W-Mendenhall L-Smith
 
 
Game 2:   Parkland 3  John Wood 1
 
The Cobras struck quickly again scoring twice in the 1st.  Basham led off with a walk and raced home on Ivy Nichols triple. Nichols would come home on Youngblood's base hit.  Wood cut the lead in half with a run in the 2nd and it would remain 2-1 until the 5th when PC would score again. Morgan Parrish walked, moved to second on a sacrifice and scored on Basham's single. That would be all the runs Cobra pitcher Tori Witruk would need as she got the win walking one and striking out seven. Basham had three more hits to give her six on the afternoon while Bre Riemenschneider added a pair.
 
PC   200 010 0      3    8   2
JW  010 000 0      1    8   0
W-Witruk  L-Hau