DECATUR, Ill. – No. 5 Parkland swept a pair of games from Millikin JV in shutout fashion on Wednesday evening, defeating the Big Blue by scores of 9-0 and 10-0. The two victories move Parkland's overall record to 24-9.
 
Parkland pitchers Cody Hawthorne (7 IP, 0R, 14K) and Sam Ballard (5 IP, 0R, 8K) baffled the opposition over 12 shutout innings, while third baseman Alex Steinbach (6-7, 4 RBI), Dan Warkentin (4-5, 3 RBI, HR) were potent at the plate.
 
The Cobras were also aggressive on the bases, snagging 15 stolen bases between the two contests. Now ranking fifth in NJCAA DII with 31 stolen bases, Center fielder Trevor Burkhart nabbed seven of the 15 bases, including five in game two. Shortstop Trevor Minder added in four more of his own to give him 23 on the season which is tied for 12^th nationally.
 
Up next, the Cobras will face No. 16 Heartland for a four-game series beginning on Friday, April 19, in Normal, Ill. for a 2 p.m. doubleheader. The series shifts to Champaign on Saturday, April 20, for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
 
Game 1: No. 5 Parkland 9, Millikin 0
 
Cody Hawthorne threw seven dominate innings to record his first win of the season, striking out 14 Millikin batters while allowing just three hits and two walks. Backing the performance was a Cobra offense that scored in four of the seven innings with 14 hits, led by seven hits from Trevor Burkhart and Alex Steinbach.
 
With 10 hits coming from the top five spots, third baseman Alex Steinbach went 4-for-4 in the opener with four singles that drove in a team-high four runs to lead the team. Lead-off hitter Trevor Burkhart added a three-hit performance, stealing two bases and scoring a run, while shortstop Trevor Minder scored three runs and stole three bases out of the three-hole.
 
Balancing out the line-up, catcher Robert Barnard went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI, while second baseman Dan Warkentin reached base three times with a hit and two walks.
 
Active on the bases, the Cobras stole seven bases in game one, led by three from Minder and two from Burkhart.
 
Game 2: No. 5 Parkland 10, Millikin JV 0 (5 inn.)
 
Continuing the dominant pitching performance, Sam Ballard picked up the win in game two behind five, one-hit innings with eight strikeouts. Dan Warkentin and Mike Hampton led the offense with three hits apiece, highlighted by Warkentin's fourth homer of the season.
 
Sparked by three runs in the top of the first, the Cobras scored in four of the five innings, capped off by a five-run fifth inning to earn the run-rule win. With six Cobras combining for the 11 hits, Warkentin's homer and a double by Hampton added power to the attack. Warkentin drove in three RBI to lead the team, while Hampton added two more.
 
After recording hits in all four at-bats in game one, Steinbach added two more hits in the nightcap, going 2-for-3 and scoring twice.
 
Continuing to run wild on the bases, Burkhart stole a season-high five bases, as the Cobras pilfered eight bags as a team. Trevor Minder, Alex Steinbach and Damian Pierce recorded the other three steals.