QUINCY, Ill. – Backed by a grand slam in game one from centerfielder
Trevor Burkhart in game one and a three-run homer from first baseman Dan Warkentin in game two, the Cobras swept John Wood, 12-0 and 5-3, in a Saturday M-WAC doubleheader.
On the mound, Keegan McHood (3-1) picked up the win behind 12 strikeouts in game one, while
Ricky Castro (2-1) earned the win in game two with
Ty Rybarczyk picked up the save with three scoreless innings.
Improving to 17-7 overall this season, the Cobras have won eight of their last nine games and hold an 11-3 record in Region 24.
Up next, Parkland will return home to host the final two games of the weekend series against the Blazers on Sunday at 1 p.m. central time.
Game 1: Parkland 12, John Wood 0 (5 inn.)
Centerfielder
Trevor Burkhart and third baseman
Alex Steinbach drove in seven runs, while starter Keegan McHood (3-1) blew away the Blazers with 12 strikeouts over five scoreless innings.
McHood earned his third win behind his best performance of the season. Tossing five innings in the run-rule shortened win, the sophomore dominated Blazer batters with a season-high 12 strikeouts while not allowing a walk for the first time this season and allowing just three hits.
After a scoreless first inning, the Cobras put up crooked numbers in each of the next three innings to put away the win in the series opener. Parkland scored two runs in the second, added four more tallies in the third and then doubled their total with six runs in the fourth highlighted by Burkhart's slam.
Hitting his team-leading fifth home run, and first grand slam, Burkhart continued his hot hitting with his fifth straight game with at least one hit. Over the last five games, the Cobras' leadoff man is hitting .388 with two home runs.
Driving in three with a three-hit day, Steinbach set season highs in both categories. The three hits mark his fifth multi-hit game of the season, while the three RBI is the third multi-RBI game for the Cobra third baseman.
Game 2: Parkland 5, John Wood 3 (7 inn.)
First baseman Dan Warkentin stepped to the plate with the Cobras trailing in the top of the fifth and hit his second home of the season to give the Cobras the lead.
Ricky Castro (2-1) earned his second win of the season, while
Ty Rybarczyk closed out his first save of the season.
Entering with one home run and three RBI on the season, Warkentin launched his second bomb of the year and his first since March 20 at Jefferson (MO). Going 2-for-4 on the day, Warkentin has hit in six straight games with three extra-base hits in that span.
The Cobras fell behind early when Castro allowed three first-inning runs, but the freshman righthander buckled down and held the Blazers scoreless over the following three innings. Allowing four hits overall, Castro stuck out three.
Entering with the lead in the bottom of the fifth, Rybarczyk earned his first collegiate save with three innings of shutout pitching. Allowing just one hit, the freshman struck out three.
