CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Parkland College Softball (15-2) split a doubleheader with No. 1 (DIII) Rock Valley College (3-1).
 
In game one, a 2-run, walk-off, home run by Summer Johnson in the bottom of the eighth inning provided the tying and game-winning runs in the 6-5 win.
 
"Chayse Ramey held down an excellent hitting team and battled thru some late inning situations," expressed Co-Head Coach Kristi Paulson. "She showed us tonight that she can handle the tough situations."
 
"Summer's walk off in the 8th inning was impressive," added Co-Head Coach Dan Paulson. "Game one was a total team win. Having the opportunity to play a very strong opponent like Rock Valley is what we want. We learn what we need to work on, and we become battle tested."
 
In game two, Rock Valley used a huge second inning on its way to a 12-4 defeat of the Cobras.
 
Up next, the Parkland remains in Champaign, Ill., to host Kishwaukee College for a doubleheader on Friday, March 19. Game times are 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm.
 
 
Game 1: Parkland- 6,  No. 1 Rock Valley- 5  (8 innings) 
 
Anna Walker (1-3, 1 BB) scored two runs for Parkland, the first on a Summer Johnson (2-3, 1 HR, 3 RBI) double in the first, and the second on a Johnson bunt in the sixth. Johnson scored two early runs herself, the first on an error in the fourth, and the second on a Reagan Cheely (1-2, 1 RBI) sixth-inning double. The Cobras led, 4-0, after six.
 
In the top of the seventh, Rock Valley rallied to score 3, and, with the bases loaded and two outs, drew a walk to tie the score, 4-4. A strikeout ended the inning for the Golden Eagles. Parkland failed to score, sending the game into extra innings.
 
In the eighth, Rock Valley loaded the bases with no outs but managed to score only 1, taking a 4-5 lead. In the bottom half, Johnson stepped up and launched a 2-run long ball over the left field fence to end the game in dramatic fashion.
 
Chayse Ramey (8-0) was the winning pitcher for Parkland. She surrendered five runs on six hits over eight innings, striking out 12.
 
 
Game 2: Parkland- 4,  No. 1 Rock Valley- 12  (5 innings) 
 
Parkland was up, 2-0, after the first, but Rock Valley exploded for 9 runs in the second inning to go up, 9-2. The Cobras added 2 in the bottom half but were unable to come up with any additional. The Golden Eagles tacked on 3 in the third to complete the scoring.
 
Isabel Shafer (2-2, 1 HR, 2 RBI) and Reagan Cheely (2-3, 2-2B, 2 RBI) each had two hits and two RBIs for the Cobras.
 
Josie Birch (2-1) took the loss for Parkland College. The righthander allowed three hits and five runs over one and one-third innings. Emily Senjan (7 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO) provided relief out of the bullpen for three and two-thirds innings.