Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Parkland softball pushed their season-best winning streak to eight games with a sweep of John Wood, 4-2 and 8-0, on Friday afternoon. Now 31-17 on the season and 15-5 in the M-WAC, the Cobras were led by complete games from Kate Beckemyer (7 IP, 2ER, 2K) and Morgan Parrish (6 IP, 0ER, 3K) on the mound and Emma Newton (6-7, 3 2B, RBI) and Bella Coffey (HR, 4 RBI) at the plate.

Peaking at the right time, Parkland is averaging eight runs per game with a .469 batting average while holding their opponents to just 1.88 runs per game during the eight-game winning streak.

In game one, Kirbie Mendenhall and Bella Coffey both went yard and Emma Newton doubled twice to spark the offense. In the circle, Kate Beckemeyer tossed her fourth seven-inning complete game of the season, allowing just two runs while striking out a pair. Improving to 6-5 on the season, Beckemeyer lowered her season ERA to 2.91 and is 3-0 with a 1.58 ERA over her last three starts.

The strong pitching continued in game two, as Morgan Parrish pitched her fourth complete game shutout of the season. Facing the minimum through four innings, Parrish only allowed two runners to reach scoring position while striking out three over six innings. At the plate, the Cobras scored eight runs on 15 hits, highlighted by four hits from Newton and three from Summer Johnson.

Up next, the Cobras host Danville Area for a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, May 4. Following game two, the Cobras will honor head coach Chuck Clutts to celebrate his 19 seasons leading Parkland softball.

Game 1: Parkland 4, John Wood 2

After giving up a run in the top of the first, Kirbie Mendenhall tied the game with a one-out home run in the bottom of the second. A solo shot to left-center, the homer was Mendenhall's second of the season.

Beckemeyer set down the side in order for the second straight inning, and then the Cobras strung together two hits to take advantage of a one-out error. With Poehler on second base after the error, Skundberg singled to second. With runners at the corners, Newton lined a double over the head of the centerfielder to bring home the go-ahead run.

Working around two singles and a walk over the next two innings, Beckemeyer protected the one-run lead until a fifth-inning blast by Coffey added two insurance runs. With one out in the fifth, Newton lined her second double of the day, and then Coffey launched her seventh homer of the season to push the lead to 4-2.

John Wood came back with a run in the top of the sixth, but Beckemeyer came back with a clean seventh inning to finish off the victory.

Game 2: Parkland 8, John Wood 0 (6 inn.)

Three two-out singles in the bottom of the first gave Parkland an early 1-0 lead in game two. Singles by Skundberg and Newton and a walk to Coffey set the table for an RBI single from Johnson.

Parkland added a run in the fourth, using three more hits to bring in a run. Back-to-back hits by Johnson and Mendenhall and a sacrifice bunt by Makenzie Ruppert set the table for an RBI single by Lauren Wendling.

Leading 2-0 after another shutdown inning from Parrish, the Cobras put more distance between them and the Blazers with a four-run fifth. Newton's fifth hit of the day got the Cobras' offense going, again, with a lead-off single. After a Johnson single put a second runner on base, Mendenhall hit a ball off the fence in centerfield to drive in Newton. Johnson would then come home on an error, and then Beckemeyer chased home Mendenhall and Ruppert with a double over the left fielder's head.

The Cobras' 3-4-5 hitters made quick work in the bottom of the sixth, using three straight hits to score two runs and finish off the run-rule victory. Skundberg led off with a double, and then moved to third on Newton's third two-bagger of the day. With the winning runs in scoring position, Coffey lined one passed the third baseman to score two and walk-off the Blazers.